BRIDGE

Number One Hundred and Twenty-Three

Y
DEFENCE QUIZ
by Julian Pottage
ou are East in the defensive positions below. Both sides
are using Acol with a 12-14 1NT. (Answers on page 16.) Y
DECLARER PLAY QUIZ
by David Huggett
March 2013

ou are South as declarer playing teams or rubber bridge.

What is your play strategy? (Answers on page 19.)

1. ♠ K 3. ♠ 10 5 1. ♠ 8 3 2 3. ♠ 7 4 3
♥ 8 5 3 ♥ K J 8 3 ♥ Q 7 6 ♥ Q 5
♦ A J 9 6 2 ♦ A Q 10 6 2 ♦ K J 10 ♦ A K J 10 6
♣ K 9 7 4 ♣ K 10 ♣ A 7 4 3 ♣ K 7 4
♠ A732 ♠ A J 6 2
N N N N
W E
♥ KJ7 ♥ 10 7 5
W E W E W E
S ♦ 754 ♦ J 5 4
S S S
♣ J63 ♣ J 8 3
♠ A K 5 ♠ K 6
♥ J 10 9 5 4 2 ♥ A K 7 2
West North East South West North East South ♦ Q 5 ♦ 9 5 3
1♥ 1NT ♣ K 2 ♣ A 6 3 2
Pass 2♦ Pass 2NT Pass 2♣ Pass 2♦1
Pass 3♥ Pass 3NT Pass 3NT End
End 1
No four-card major You are declarer in 4♥ and You are declarer in 3NT
West leads the ♠Q. How and West leads the ♥J.
Partner leads the ♠6 to Partner leads the ♠4. You do you plan the play? How do you plan the play?
your ♠A. What do you win with the ♠A, seeing
return? the ♠3 on your left. Which
card do you return?

2. ♠ A Q 6 4. ♠ Q 9 3
2. ♠ Q J 4. ♠ A 9 5 4 ♥ 7 3 2 ♥ Q
♥ 10 8 3 ♥ 10 7 ♦ K 10 6 5 ♦ K 9 8 7 5 4 3
♦ A K 8 6 2 ♦ Q J 2 ♣ K J 4 ♣ A 8
♣ Q J 7 ♣ A Q J 5
N N
♠ K 6 2 ♠ J 10 8 2 W E W E
N N
♥ Q 9 7 5 2 ♥ J9864 S S
W E W E
♦ Q 10 4 S
♦ A3
S
♣ 6 5 ♣ 10 8 ♠ K 2 ♠ A K J 10 7 6
♥ A Q 6 ♥ A 8 5
♦ A 9 3 ♦ A
West North East South West North East South ♣ A Q 10 5 2 ♣ Q 6 3
1NT 1♠
Pass 3NT End Pass 2♣ Pass 2♠
Pass 4♠ End You are declarer in 6NT You are declarer in 7♠ and
Partner leads the ♠5. You and West leads the ♠J. West leads the ♠8. How do
win with the ♠K, South Partner leads the ♦6. You How do you plan the play? you plan the play?
playing the ♠3. What do capture the ♦J with the ♦A,
you return? collecting the ♦5 on your
left. What do you return?
 CRUISE ACROSS CONTINENTS
INDIA, OMAN &
THE TREASURES OF EGYPT

SPECIAL
MR BRIDGE
FARES
Combine the mysteries of India and the
ancient lands of the Pharaohs in one
spectacular voyage!
Luxor Safaga
Mumbai was made the headquarters of the British East India Company in EGYPT Muscat
Red Porbandar
1687 but it was the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 that transformed Oman
the city – then known as Bombay – into one of the world’s great trading Sea Salalah Mumbai
INDIA

centres. Your journey begins here with an overnight hotel stay and a tour Arabian
of all the main sights including Mani Bhavan, a museum that was once the Sea
residence of Mahatma Gandhi, the Victorian architectural monuments of
the British Empire, the Prince of Wales Museum and the Gateway of India.
MARCH 20, 2013 – 16 days from £1,695
Cruise in comfort, relax in style
DATE PORT ARRIVE DEPART
Board the elegant Aegean Odyssey and sail for
MAR 20 Depart UK
Porbandar, birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, and the
MAR 21 Arrive MUMBAI India overnight hotel
port of Muscat in Oman to visit the Sultan's Palace
MAR 22 MUMBAI India
and the famous twin forts. Continue to Salalah, Embark Aegean Odyssey 5.00pm
famous for the production of frankincense before MAR 23 PORBANDAR India 7.00pm
relaxing at sea as the ship makes its way to Egypt. MAR 24 At Sea
After arriving at Safaga you travel to Luxor and visit two truly breathtaking MAR 25-26 MUSCAT Oman 2.00pm 2.00pm
sites: the vast temple complex of Karnak and the subterranean marvels MAR 27 At Sea
of the necropolis in the Valley of the Kings, a spectacular finale to this MAR 28 SALALAH Oman 2.00pm 8.00pm
memorable journey. MAR 29 - APR 2 Cruising the Gulf of Arabia & Red Sea
FARES INCLUDE: APR 3 SAFAGA/LUXOR Egypt overnight hotel
Disembark and drive to Luxor
SIGHTSEEING EXCURSIONS AT ALL PORTS
APR 4 LUXOR Egypt
EXPERT LECTURE PROGRAMME Transfer to Luxor Airport for flight home
WINE WITH DINNER & GRATUITIES ON BOARD
ACCOMPANIED BY MR BRIDGE HOST
EXCLUSIVE MR BRIDGE COCKTAIL PARTY
SCHEDULED AIR & TRANSFERS MR BRIDGE FARES*
PLUS MR BRIDGE SPECIAL FARES Standard Inside £1,695pp Superior Outside from £2,150pp
Superior Inside from £1,795pp Deluxe Outside from £2,450pp
CALL ON 01483 489 961 Standard Outside £1,995pp Deluxe Balcony from £2,795pp
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT ONLY £100

EXTEND YOUR HOLIDAY
ADD INDIA’S GOLDEN TRIANGLE
Enhance your voyage with the classical sights of
Delhi, Agra and Jaipur at the begining of your
voyage. Known as India’s “Golden Triangle”,
this 4-night land tour is an opportunity not
to be missed! Please ask for details.
* Prices shown are per person, double occupancy and include MR BRIDGE SPECIAL SAVINGS.
This offer is subject to availability, is capacity controlled and may be withdrawn at any time.
BRIDGE PLAYERS: The bridge programme is completely optional and Mr Bridge passengers can
participate as much, or as little as they wish. There is a supplement of £100 for those wishing
to participate in the duplicate bridge programme.
Singles are made especially welcome and a playing partner will always be found.

10093
V OYAGES TO A NTIQUITY
www.voyagestoantiquity.com ABTA No.Y2206

BRIDGE
Ryden Grange, Knaphill,
Surrey GU21 2TH
( 01483 489961
e-mail:
5 Mr Bridge
bridge@mrbridge.co.uk
website:
www.mrbridge.co.uk 9 David Stevenson
Publisher and
Managing Editor
Mr Bridge
Bridge Consultant
Bernard Magee 20 Julian Pottage
Technical Consultant
Tony Gordon
Typesetting & Design
Ruth Edmondson
Proof Readers
Tony & Jan Richards
Catrina Shackleton
Richard Wheen
Hugh Williams
Office Manager
Rachel Everett
Events & Cruises
( 01483 489961
Rosie Baker
Jessica Galt
Megan Riccio
Sophie Pierrepont
ADVERTISEMENTS
Clubs & Charities
Maggie Axtell
maggie@mrbridge.co.uk
Address Changes
Elizabeth Bryan
( 01483 485342
elizabeth@mrbridge.co.uk
All correspondence should
be addressed to Mr Bridge.
Please make sure that all
letters, e-mails and faxes
carry full postal addresses
and telephone numbers.
FEATURES
1 Defence Quiz
by Julian Pottage
1 Declarer Play Quiz
by David Huggett
3 Bidding Quiz
by Bernard Magee
5 Bridge Etiquette
Answers Your Questions
16 Defence Quiz Answers
by Julian Pottage
19 Declarer Play Answers
by David Huggett
Answers Your Questions
23 Lead Quiz
by Andrew Kambites
26 Lead Quiz Answers
by Andrew Kambites
27 Readers’ Letters
29 The A to Z of
Bridge: R
by Julian Pottage
39 The Diaries of
Wendy Wensum
43 Catching Up
by Sally Brock
44 Seven Days
by Sally Brock
47 Bidding Quiz Answers
by Bernard Magee
2 Cruise from India
to Luxor with
Voyages to Antiquity
4 Denham Grove
May Event 2013
7 Mr Bridge
Just Duplicate Bridge
7 Bridge Event
Booking Form
8 Bridge Events with
Bernard Magee
The views expressed in this publication are not
necessarily those of the publisher or its Managing Editor.
Page 3
10 Duplicate Bridge
Rules Simplified Bernard Magee’s
11 Bridge Events at:
Bidding Quiz
Blunsdon House Hotel
You are West in the
The Olde Barn Hotel
auctions below, playing
12 Bridge Events at:
‘Standard Acol’ with a
Queensferry Hotel
weak no-trump (12-14
Elstead Hotel
points) and 4-card majors.
12 Rubber / Chicago (Answers on page 47.)
Bridge Events
14 Voyages of Discovery
1. Dealer East. Love All.
Voyager 2013 Cruises
♠ K 7
17 Mail Order Form ♥ Q 9 3
N
W E
♦ 8 5 3 2 S
17 Cut-out Form
♣ 7 6 5 4
18 Bernard Magee
Haslemere DVDs
19 Begin Bridge
West North East South
1♠ Pass
with Bernard Magee ?
23 Bridge Events at:
Cheltenham
Regency Hotel 2. Dealer South. Love All.
♠ 3
24 Voyages to Antiquity ♥ A 3 2 N
2013 Cruises ♦ J 8 7 6 2 W E
♣ K 8 5 4 S
27 Stamps
28 Charity Events
West North East South
30 Athens to Venice with
Voyages to Antiquity
1♥
Pass 2♥ Dbl 3♥
32 Venice to Rome with 4♦ 4♥ Pass Pass
Voyages to Antiquity ?
36 Rome to Cannes with
Voyages to Antiquity
3. Dealer East. Game All.
40 Global ♠ A 6
Travel Insurance ♥ 5 4
♦ 6 5 2
N
W E
42 Tutorial Software S
♣ A Q 10 9 5 4
and QPlus
43 Bridge Events at
Denham Grove
West North East South
1NT 2♠
43 S R Designs ?
Bridge Tables
46 Bridge Events at:
4. Dealer East. Love All.
Ardington Hotel
♠ 9 8 7 6 3
Chatsworth House N
♥ 4
W E
47 Bridge Events at: ♦ 6 3 2 S
The Inn on the Prom ♣ 10 9 5 4
48 The Cities and Sites
of Ancient Asia with West North East South
Voyages to Antiquity 2♣ Pass
2♦ Pass 2NT Pass
?
 BERNARD 
MAGEE
at Denham Grove
near Uxbridge, Bucks, UB9 5DG.

Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

14 May 15 May 16 May
From 9.30 am From 9.30 am From 9.30 am
Check in Check in Check in
Tea, Coffee & Biscuits Tea, Coffee & Biscuits Tea, Coffee & Biscuits
10.30 am – 12 noon 10.30 am – 12 noon 10.30 am – 12 noon
Thinking Defence Splinters & Cue Bids Hand Evaluation
(without a fit)
12 noon – 2.30 pm 12 noon – 2.30 pm
Supervised Play1 Supervised Play1 12 noon – 2.30 pm
3-Course Buffet Lunch 3-Course Buffet Lunch Supervised Play1
3-Course Buffet Lunch
3 pm – 4.30 pm 3 pm – 4.30 pm
Pre-emptive Play & Defence 3 pm – 4.30 pm
Bidding at Duplicate Pairs Avoidance Play
4.30 pm – 7 pm 4.30 pm – 7 pm 4.30 pm – 7 pm
Supervised Play1 Supervised Play1 Supervised Play1
Tea, Coffee & Biscuits Tea, Coffee & Biscuits Tea, Coffee & Biscuits
Day guests may stay until 7pm. Day guests may stay until 7pm. Day guests may stay until 7pm.

£100 per day2. £270 for all three days3.

A limited number of bedrooms are available:
Dinner, bed and breakfast: £90 per person, per night.
Contact Mr Bridge to book your place or for further details: ( 01483 489961
These seminars are to be filmed. When ready, a full boxed set of DVDs will be sent.
1
Not with Bernard Magee. 2Includes
Page 4buffet lunch. Day guests only.
3
 LIVING THE
DREAM
The relocated programme
of seminars announced in
the last issue was forced
upon me by the almost
complete absence of
bookings for the event at
the Haslemere venue. As
each of these series of
filmings involves an outlay
around £50,000, I needed
to act decisively to ensure
that this investment is
secure and the long term
project is not derailed.
Supervised play is a major
part of what we do and as
Bernard Magee needs to
rest in between each
session, incorporating a
lunch break and a couple
of hours of supervised play,
after the morning lecture,
gives those attending a
truly great day out.
The venue is easily
accessible from London and
there are hotels and b & b’s
in the area for those that
need them.
In all, I plan to produce
sixty DVDs, each of around
ninety minutes running
time, covering almost
every aspect of the game.
They are being scripted,
performed and filmed by
consummate professionals.
By putting my name to
these and to the ten
interactive CDs that are
planned for the supervised
play, it should be possible
to make learning to play
bridge more entertaining
and easier too.
FILM BENEFITS
Watching and re-watching
Bernard Magee’s DVDs
over and over again is a real
boon for us oldies. Believe
me, it does eventually sink
in and if you allow yourself
to be subsumed by his
charismatic charm, the
lessons are even more
permanently absorbed.
USED STAMPS
Please remember to save
your used postage stamps
in support of Little Voice,
a children’s orphanage and
school in Addis Ababa.
UNCHANGED
Back in February 2008, the
adjacent half-page was
published on page 37 of
BRIDGE number 87. The
point of my reprinting it,
unaltered, five years later, is
to once again urge readers
to print it out and put it up
on their club notice boards.
This is important as I can
tell from my post bag that
manners at the table have
are again on the slide.
CONGRATULATIONS
Andrew Robson O.B.E.
who goes to Buck House
for his investiture on 13
February. Good for him
and good for bridge.
PRIZE QUIZ
The latest prize quiz can be
found on page 17. Entries,
by post or email, close on
31 March 2013.
Page 5
Bridge Etiquette
On Arrival
l Check whether you need to sign in.
l Check whether a particular table is reserved for the TD.
General
l Turn off your mobile phone. (If it is absolutely vital you
have it on, leave it on ‘vibrate’.)
l It is necessary to play quite quickly. The aim is to be able
to play at least 21-24 boards in a session.
Each New Round
l Greet your new opponents as they arrive at your table.
l Explain your system clearly and simply, if asked. Answer
any questions clearly.
l Sort and count your cards quickly, so that you can bid
promptly when it is your turn.
l Do not sort through your cards again when it is your turn
to bid.
l Do not ask what a bid means unless you are intending
to bid. Ask any questions when the auction is over.
The Play
l Do not put your bidding cards away until the initial lead
has been made.
l When you are making the initial lead, play your card
before you write down the contract or enter the details in
the Bridgemate. (Three people are waiting!)
l Place this card face down on the table first, to check
whether partner has any questions about the auction.
l As dummy, lay out the cards before you write down the
contract or enter the details in the Bridgemate. And lay
out the cards as quickly as possible. (Three people are
waiting!)
l As declarer, plan your campaign before you select a
card from dummy.
l As dummy, do not play the first card (even if it is a
singleton) until declarer has worked out his plan and
called for it.
l As declarer, always call for the card you wish dummy to
play (unless dummy is away from the table or has a
disability, making the play of cards difficult).
l As declarer, when you lead to a trick, wait for LHO to
play his card before calling a card from dummy.
l When making a claim, explain your intended line of play
clearly.
l When the hand has been completed, North should fill in
the score on the traveller or Bridgemate quickly. East
confirms it is correct.
On Completion of the Play
l Do not hold long post-mortems unless you are clearly
well ahead of the other tables.
l Do not touch other players’ cards – ask them to show you.
l North handles new boards.
l Thank your opponents at the end of the round and move
quickly to your new table.
Compiled by a new club member and sent to me by the secretary.
 QPLUS
Only a couple of really
interesting hands since I
last wrote, evidence that I
have been working more
and playing less.
5464–09 4607–06
QPlus 11 will be available
in the late summer at £92
but you can order it now
and receive QPlus 10 right
away. Be assured you will
be sent a standalone QPlus
11 when it is released and
you will be able to give the
standalone QPlus 10 to one
of your friends.
If you are unsure, then I
will sell you a clean second-
hand copy of a standalone
QPlus 9 for only £49. If you
find you like the program,
you can trade in QPlus 9
for the latest version as and
when. Buy with confidence.
BETTER BRIDGE
The first CD with six
chapters, each with twenty
hands and matching the six
subjects covered by the
2011 DVDs. This is Bernard
at his very best.
CLEARANCE
As those who are on my
database of email
addresses are aware, I have
been clearing out a lot of
old or slightly soiled
products. Do send me your
email address if you would
like to be in the loop.
HELP WANTED
My appeal in the last issue
has resulted in a few
candidates to join my team
of hosts, helpers and
lecturers but I do need to
hear from more of you.
Likewise I appeal for new
ideas and columnists to
join my growing team. Let
me hear from you too. As I
said in the last issue, please
don’t be backward in
coming forward.
GOFFIES STAMPS
I have notice an increasing
number of letters that have
multiple stamps on their
covers. This I put down to
Clive Goff and his
discounted stamp service.
Value supplied in two
stamps combined to make
up the 50p 2nd class rate,
2nd class to you, 41p. 1st
class 60p, only 50p to you.
Available in lots of 100.
( 0208 422 4906
clive.goff@londonrugby.com
GOOD CAUSES
At the risk of repeating
myself, it always
surprises me that charity
promoters of bridge
sessions, to raise funds
for their good causes, do
not use these pages more
to advertise their events.
After all, the space is free.
All I ask is that both the
relevant dates and
information are provided
well in advance. It is also
surprising that so few
ask for prizes. When
bothering to raise funds,
perhaps the organisers
should have one of the
committee put in charge
of collecting these. We
never refuse to provide
support for any good
cause. So organisers and
promoters, let’s be
hearing from you.
BEST WESTERN
Both the Blunsdon House
and the Cheltenham
Regency Hotels are branded
Best Western.
Page 6
CLUB INSURANCE
Moore Stephens offer a club
insurance package to cover
clubs and more particularly
their committee members
for all the obvious risks.
£60 for a club of 100
members... and most
importantly, it covers the
unforeseen.
I receive at least one letter
a month telling me that I
am scare-mongering,
trying to drum up business,
but it is the risks that aren’t
obvious that are the
problem and need to be
covered by insurance. Ring
Moore Stephens on
( 0207 515 5270.
VOYAGER
Bernard Magee is joining
m.v. Voyager on the
following three cruises later
this year.
Celtic Treasures
25 May – 2 June
Prices from £849pp
Midnight Sun
11 – 25 June
Prices from £1869pp
Med Medley
12 – 26 September
Prices from £1749pp
On each voyage he will sail
with an experienced team
dedicated to making the
bridge element of your
holiday truly memorable.
ROYAL KENZ
TUNISIA
Two-week half-board
duplicate bridge holidays.
3-17 November 2013
Golf available
Tony and Jan Richards
from £769
JUST DUPLICATE
Hey ho, here we go. One or
two of our venues don’t
understand our marketing
strategy. Indeed they
believe places at their hotels
are too easy to sell and have
increased their prices and
insisted on single
supplements.
These changes have resulted
in a number of readers
being inconvenienced and
some disappointed. It was
supposed to be my
Christmas present. I will
have to think of something
better for next time. Your
constructive suggestions
would be most welcome.
FUND RAISERS
I have a number of ideas for
those of you who are
looking for ways of raising
funds for your pet good
cause or charity. Give me a
call or send me an email,
but make sure to include
your telephone number as I
am old fashioned enough to
want to talk to you.
CHRISTMAS 2013
Details of this year’s Festive
season will be published in
the next issue. All those
with us last year will be
written to directly, so they
may book early. We hope to
be able to add an extra day
at each end of the holiday,
making a four-night stay
an attractive proposition.
ON THE MEND
Mrs Bridge is out of
hospital and perhaps trying
to recover too quickly.
However, she has asked me
to thank the many readers
who sent their good wishes.
To this I add my thanks.
All good wishes
Mr Bridge
 ✄
JUST DUPLICATE
BRIDGE 2013 BRIDGE 
15-17 March
The Olde Barn £169
BREAKS
22-24 March ♦ Full-board ♦ Two seminars*
Ardington Hotel £199
♦ All rooms with ♦ Two supervised
en-suite facilities play sessions*
5-7 April
Cheltenham Regency £199 ♦ No single supplement ♦ Four bridge sessions**

12-14 April Please book ..... places for me at £....... per person,
Ardington Hotel £199
Cheltenham Regency Hotel
17-19 May Cheltenham GL51 0ST
Single .... Double .... Twin ....
Cheltenham Regency £199
Name of Hotel/Centre.............................................................
17-19 May 6-8 September
The Olde Barn £169 Cheltenham Regency £199 Date(s) ....................................................................................

31 May – 2 June 6-8 September

The Olde Barn £169
14-16 June
Chatsworth Hotel £199
The Olde Barn £169 Mr/Mrs/Miss .........................................................................
13-15 September Address...................................................................................
Cheltenham Regency £199
................................................................................................
11-13 October
Cheltenham Regency £199 Postcode .................................................................................
18-20 October
The Olde Barn £169
( ...........................................................................................

25-27 October Special requirements (these cannot be guaranteed,

Cheltenham Regency £199 but we will do our best to oblige).

1-3 November ................................................................................................

The Olde Barn £169
Ardington Hotel Please give the name(s) of all those covered by this booking.
22-24 November
Worthing BN11 3DZ
Elstead Hotel £199
................................................................................................
14-16 June 22-24 November
Elstead Hotel £199 The Olde Barn £169 Please send a non-returnable deposit of £50 per person per place by
cheque, payable to Mr Bridge. An invoice for the balance will be sent
21-23 June 6-8 December with your booking confirmation. On receipt of your final payment,
The Olde Barn £169 Cheltenham Regency £199 28 days before the event, a programme and full details will be sent
together with a map. Cancellations are not refundable. Should you
12-14 July require insurance, you should contact your own insurance broker.
Inn on the Prom £169

19-21 July
The Olde Barn £169

26-28 July
Cheltenham Regency £199
Expiry: ................................. CVV......................... Issue No....................
9-11 August (CVV is the last 3 numbers on the signature strip)
Cheltenham Regency £199

16-18 August The Olde Barn Hotel Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH.
Inn on the Prom £169 Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT
( 01483 489961
e-mail: jessica@mrbridge.co.uk
Full Board – No Single Supplement website: www.holidaybridge.com
*on tutorial weekends only. **6 sessions on rubber/Chicago events.
Please note there are no seminars or set hands at these events.
Please note: Just Bridge events contain no seminars and do not award prizes.
✄

Page 7
2013 BRIDGE EVENTS with Bernard Magee

JULY 2013
PROGRAMME
5-7 Blunsdon FRIDAY
House Hotel 1500 Mr Bridge
£245 Signals Welcome Desk open
Afternoon Tea
and
1745 to 1830
Discards Welcome drinks
reception
Chatsworth Hotel Cheltenham Regency Hotel 1830 to 2000
Worthing BN11 3DU Cheltenham GL51 0ST DINNER
2015 BRIDGE 1
MARCH 2013 October continued DUPLICATE PAIRS

22-24 Queensferry 18-20 Chatsworth SATURDAY

0800 to 0930
Hotel Hotel BREAKFAST
£245 Leads and £245 Playing & 1000 to 1230
Defence Defending SEMINAR &
1NT SUPERVISED PLAY
The Olde Barn Hotel
of SET HANDS
Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT
APRIL 2013 (tea & coffee at 1100)
25-27 Queensferry 1230 to 1330
5-7 Blunsdon Hotel COLD BUFFET
House Hotel 12-14 Cheltenham £245 Finding LUNCH

£245 Losing Trick Regency Slams 1400 to 1645

BRIDGE 2
Count £245 Thinking TEAMS of FOUR
Defence or FURTHER
SUPERVISED PLAY
of SET HANDS
October 2013 1815 to 2000
DINNER
11-13 Blunsdon 2015 BRIDGE 3
House Hotel DUPLICATE PAIRS
£245 Splinters SUNDAY
and 0800 to 0930
Cue Bids BREAKFAST
Inn on the Prom Queensferry Hotel
North Queensferry KY11 1HP
1000 to 1230
St Annes-on-Sea FY8 1LU
SEMINAR &
SUPERVISED PLAY
of SET HANDS
12-14 Chatsworth NOVEMber 2013 (tea & coffee at 1100)
1230 to 1400
Hotel CARVERY LUNCH
8-10 Olde
£245 Declarer Play 1400 to 1645
Barn
BRIDGE 4
19-21 Inn Hotel FURTHER
on the Prom £245 Better SUPERVISED PLAY
of SET HANDS or
£245 Thinking Blunsdon House Hotel Leads DUPLICATE PAIRS
Defence Swindon SN26 7AS & Switches

Full Board. No Single Supplement. See Booking Form on page 7.

Page 8
 David Stevenson answers your questions on Laws and Ethics
Playing Tricks
and Clear-Cut
Tricks
Q
I have been is only 5. So what David
reading Julian Stevenson is saying is
Pottage’s that one cannot analyse
answer to Emma Jones’s one’s hand as Julian
question (BRIDGE 119). Pottage or Ron Klinger
He outlines his recommends and open
method of determining a strong two unless
the number of playing one elects (and shows
tricks for a strong two on one’s convention
opening and, in the card) that one opens
example, arrives at 7. on 16+ HCPs or a
I am re-reading a rule of 25 irrespective
Ron Klinger book in of playing tricks.
which he says he adds I don’t see how I can
a trick for any card over make a call based on
three in a suit. So, in an analysis that gives
the example, he comes 8 playing tricks, only
up with 8, just as the to find that I am in
partner of the person breach of EBU rules
who posed the question. which use a different
Now I accept this method of analysis,
variation is a question if my opponents call
Q A
of deciding which the director and claim
analytic method one that the call is illegal.
wants to adopt, but my Godfrey Chasmer by email.
question is the difference
A
between this and David  You are confusing
Stevenson’s answer to two different things;
my question (BRIDGE playing tricks, which
119). Here he says that is a somewhat optimistic
if opening a strong two count of tricks you expect
based on playing tricks, to get and which is used as
firstly the hand must an aid to hand evaluation
have opening HCPs, say and clear-cut tricks, which
a minimum of 11, and is a pessimistic count to
he analyses the playing decide what bids are legal.
tricks by giving partner a Thus a hand with eight
void and then taking the playing tricks might only
second worst split. On have seven clear-cut tricks.
that basis, the example The English Bridge Union
Page 9
have decided that what
constitutes a legal opening
described as strong is
based on three rules, one
of which includes clear-cut
tricks. This definition does
not use playing tricks.
 If you play in English
or Welsh events, you are
expected to use legal
methods. They are based on
the definition in BRIDGE 119
and clarified further above.
In my view, they are
extremely lax and to open
a hand any weaker than
that and call it strong is
not just illegal, but is very
poor bridge indeed.
♣♦♥♠
Who is
responsible
for ensuring
dummy’s cards are
correctly displayed? I
was called to a table
by a defender midway
through the play of a
hand and told that the
♠A had been set in the
position of the ♣A and
nobody had noticed.
Declarer held the ♣A.
One of the defenders
claimed that they
had made a discard
before the error was
noticed, which they
would not have made
if dummy’s cards had
been displayed correctly.
This discard had cost
his side a trick. I ruled
that although it was
obviously dummy’s prime
responsibility to ensure
his cards were displayed
correctly, declarer and
both defenders should
have been inspecting
dummy once it had been
displayed and could
have pointed out any
problems. I therefore
ruled that play should
continue normally.
Could you comment?
Alan Mansell,
Milford-on-Sea.
I am afraid you are
wrong. It is dummy’s
responsibility to set
dummy out correctly and
dummy should never be
gaining because of failure
to do this. You should have
adjusted the score to give the
defenders a trick.
David Stevenson answers all
queries based on the facts
supplied by the letter writer.
Neither Mr Bridge nor
David Stevenson has any way
of knowing whether those
facts are correct or complete.

Ask David continued
Q
I have asked this
question at my
club but have
never had a satisfactory,
definitive answer.
You are dummy and
you realise at a later
point in the play that
declarer has revoked.
Perhaps you should have
said at the time, ‘having
none partner?’ but you
didn’t and now it is too
late. The opponents
did not apparently
notice and do not say
anything as the score
is about to be entered
up for the hand.
i) Is it incumbent upon
you to say something?
Are you morally obliged
to change a happy
partner’s possible
(although ill-gotten)
top into a sad partner’s
50% or less and
have them wish you
had kept quiet?
Or ii) is there a law
covering this situation
that could be referred to?
Or iii) is it not up to
you to notice things
for the opposition and
could this mean that
it is permissible to
say something if it is
detrimental to your side
but not if it is to your
benefit? (Here, I must
DUPLICATE BRIDGE  trump and phoney club?’
RULES SIMPLIFIED
(otherwise known as the Yellow Book)
by John Rumbelow and
revised by David Stevenson
Available from Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961
stress that the revoke
was a genuine mistake
and not a deliberate
attempt to cheat.)
Rod Bach by email.
A
There is no
requirement in Law
or ethics to point
out partner’s revokes. If the
opponents have not noticed
that is their hard luck.
Having said that, many
people do point out their
own or partner’s revokes.
They feel that it is required
by their own code of ethics.
In effect, there are two sorts
of ethics, ‘legal ethics’ which
are required by the Laws,
and ‘personal ethics’ which
are a personal view and
mean going further than
legal ethics require. Many
people point out their own
side’s revokes because their
personal ethics require it.
However, if you do, please
realise others will not have
the same personal ethics as
you, so you have no cause
for complaint if they do not
point out their side’s revokes.
♣♦♥♠
Q
 I am a regular
and moderately
successful player
at my local duplicate
bridge club, which is
of average strength.
My comments and
question should be
viewed in that context.
only
£5 95
Page 10
A
I have just received my If you are playing
last copy of BRIDGE and 5-card majors and
found in the excellent A a phoney club, why
to Z of Bridge, ‘Phoney not just describe it as that?
Club – A rudimentary ‘Five card majors with a
system ....’ Rudimentary phoney club,’ sounds fine
seems a bit pejorative to me. The no-trump range
to me. However, there is less important because
is a serious side to my that will be announced
question. One of my when it comes up.
partners and I have
decided to experiment ♣♦♥♠
with a 5-card major
Q
system. We open 1♣ on Playing Chicago
all hands we would have with a new
previously opened with partner, who
a weak no-trump (with was a very cautious
the sole exception of bidder, I was dealt
5-3-3-2 hands when the the following hand.
5-card suit is diamonds).
Responder can reply
1♥/1♠ only if they have ♠ A K x x x x x
a 5-card suit. They reply ♥ Q J x x x
1♦ if they do not have a ♦ A
5-card major. Therefore, ♣ Void
1♣-1♦ establishes
that neither party
has a 5-card major. I did not want to open
Phoney 1♣ opening, 2♠ (strong) in case
phoney 1♦ reply. my partner passed. I
If it is terribly therefore opened 6♠
important that opener and went one down
tells their partner they when LHO had the four
don’t have a 5-card missing spades to the
major, isn’t it important Q-J (partner had two
that responder tells small spades). As the
his partner if they cards lay we could have
have one? It all seems easily made 6♥, had I
terribly clever and opened 2♣. My question
sophisticated to me. is, am I allowed to open
At our local club, we 2♣ with only 14 points?
do not fill out convention Matthew Scott, Mayfield.
cards, we simply tell our
A
opponents the basics of Yes, you are. If you
our system. How should read earlier issues
we succinctly describe of the magazine,
our system? It isn’t SAYC. you will find details of the
Do we say, ‘15-18 no- three possible rules for
opening artificial 2♣ bids,
If we describe our system
in this way, many of our
one of which is that you
may open a hand with 25
club members who read or more opening points,
your excellent article that is HCP plus the length
will be highly amused of the two longest suits. You
and my reputation have 26 opening points.
will be in tatters. Whether it is a good idea is
Any suggestions? another matter: I would open
Alan Mansell, an Acol 2♠, which partner is
Milford-on-Sea. not allowed to pass.
 Ask David continued
Q
Whilst direct-
ing at a non-
EBU club, I had
the following poser:
West North East South
1NT Pass Pass 2♥
At this point, East
admitted that he should
have alerted 1NT as
strong. We play weak
no-trump by default
and an alert is required
for a strong no-trump.
South was reluctant to
play on and asked advice.
Les Cooper,
Lymington, Hampshire.
A
Since North has not
called, it is still in
time for South to take
his 2♥ back; therefore there
will be no problem. If they
had called you later, after
North had bid, for example,
you would have had to assign
a score; you assess what
would have happened with-
out the incorrect information,
maybe leaving them in 1NT.
The players must play the
board, whatever South thinks.
Incidentally, any club,
EBU affiliated or not, may
have its own alerting rules.
In practice, very few do.
♣♦♥♠
Q
Please could you
clarify what the
contract is after
the following sequence?
West North East South
1NT Dbl 2NT
End
Antony R Mann by email.
A
Doubles stand only
if they are the last
call of the auction
apart from passes. Thus,
the contract is 2NT undou- Blunsdon House Hotel
bled: of course, East or West
could have doubled 2NT.
Swindon SN26 7AS
♣♦♥♠
Q
In BRIDGE 119,
Julian answered
a question about
off-shape 1NT opening
bids. There are a wide
spread of ranges in play,
strong, three quarter,
weak, mini, kamikaze. BRIDGE EVENTS 2013
What is the minimum 5-7 Apr Bernard Magee Losing £245
range which is legal? Trick Count
What spreads are legal?
We meet several pairs
12-14 Apr Diana Holland Rubber/Chicago £199
playing Precision Club. 5-7 July Bernard Magee Signals & Discards £245
They play weak no- 11-13 Oct Bernard Magee Splinters £245
trump, 11-15, alerted as & Cue Bids
the hand may contain a
singleton. They also open
8-10 Nov Stan Powell Doubles £215
1♦, 11-15, alerted as 22-24 Nov Bernard Magee Better Defence £245
unsuitable for 1NT. This
seems to be a duplication
Full Board – No Single Supplement
and we do not under- Booking Form on page 7.
stand. Please comment.
Alex Mathers,
Brompton, Northallerton.
The Olde Barn Hotel
A
Players may agree
any range for 1NT, Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT
any width of range
they like, so long as it shows BRIDGE EVENTS 2013
at least nine points (ten points
at Level 2, ie for holiday or 15-17 March Just Duplicate Bridge £169
novice bridge). They may 26-28 April Splinters & Cue Bids £179
agree to allow a singleton or
17-19 May Just Duplicate Bridge £169
not. They can allow any distri-
bution without a singleton (or 31 May – 2 June Just Duplicate Bridge £169
void), for example, including 7-9 June End Play & Avoidance £179
a six or seven card suit. The
21-23 June Just Duplicate Bridge £169
rules provide great freedom
for people to experiment 19-21 July Just Duplicate Bridge £169
with a variety of systems and 16-18 August Declarer Play £179
agreements. Of course, they
need to describe their agree- 6-8 September Just Duplicate Bridge £169
ments to their opponents. 18-20 October Just Duplicate Bridge £169
As for Precision, it is the
1-3 November Just Duplicate Bridge £169
responsibility of the players
who open a short diamond to 8-10 November Bernard Magee TOPIC
NEW
explain what it shows. If they Better Leads & Switches £245
do not, just ask them further 22-24 November Just Duplicate Bridge £169
questions until they clarify.
Legally, there are a great Full Board – No Single Supplement
many ways to play a short Booking Form on page 7.
diamond.
Page 11
 Ask David continued
Queensferry Elstead
Hotel Hotel
Q
North Queensferry Bournemouth Playing E/W at
KY11 1HP BH1 3QP my club last
evening, a hand
was passed out with
South (vulnerable) in
fourth position. At the
end of the evening, the
traveller for that board
showed that every South,
except our opponent,
had opened. South had
12HCP and a balanced
hand and we thought he
BRIDGE should have opened 1NT
BRIDGE EVENTS 2013 (11-14 in fourth position).
EVENTS 2013 17-19 May The traveller showed 9
out of 11 N/S going
22-24 March Rubber/Chicago
off 200 or 300.
Leads & Defence £ 199
Should we have called
Bernard Magee 14-16 June the director at the time
£245 Just Duplicate Bridge to reserve our rights in
£ 199 case we were damaged? 
25-27 October Jane Tourell by email.
Finding Slams 22-24 November
A
Bernard Magee Just Duplicate Bridge Bridge is a game of
£245 £ 199 skill and much of
the skill is in bidding
Full Board Full Board
judgement. There is no rule
No Single that says a player must open
No Single
on 12 points: if he judges to
Supplement Supplement
pass that is perfectly legal.
Booking Form on page 7. Booking Form on page 7. So there was no need to
call the director, since no
rules have been broken.
Of course, players learn to
bid so-and-so with such-
RUBBER / CHICAGO 2013 and-such. But those are not
the rules of bridge: those are
good players’ opinions of the
best way to bid in general.
But they are still subject to
individual judgement.
♣♦♥♠
Q
North, declarer,
Blunsdon House Hotel Elstead Hotel wins a trick
Swindon SN26 7AS Bournemouth BH1 3QP and asks for a
card, ♥Q, from dummy.
12-14 April 17-19 May West follows but then
Diana Holland Diana Holland East points out that
North was on lead. Has
£199 Full Board – No Single Supplement
West, having played
Booking Form on page 7. to the trick, condoned
the lead? What should
Page 12
the procedure be and
is there a penalty?
A
West’s play has
condoned the lead
out of turn and the
♥Q has become a legal lead.
♣♦♥♠
Q
I opened 1NT
with the East
hand below. I
ended in 3NT, making
10 tricks after South’s
spade lead. The director
said that I could not open
1NT with an unbalanced
hand (the singleton), not
even as a one-off semi
psyche, unless our card
says, ‘any distribution.’
Is this right?
Ian Watson, Kelso.
♠ A Q J 3 ♠ K
♥ 10 8 5 4 3 ♥ Q J 7
♦ K 7 5 N ♦ A Q 6 4 3 2
♣ J S
W E
♣ 10 8 2
A
According to Scottish
regulations, the
only bids that may
not be psyched are strong
forcing artificial openings.
Thus, it is legal to psyche a
1NT opening in Scotland.
In any case, according
to the Scottish systems’
policy published on the SBU
website, a 1NT opening may
be opened with a singleton
honour; this is legal despite
the 1NT showing a balanced
hand, so long as you do not
have a system to identify the
possibility of a singleton.
Thus, your director was
wrong on two counts. First,
it was a legal opening, not
a psyche. Second, if it had
been a psyche, it would
be legal anyway. A 1NT
opening described as, ‘any
distribution,’ in contrast,
would not be permissible in
a Scottish club.
 Ask David continued
Q
Playing dupli-
cate, declarer led
the ♣5. His LHO
played the ♣10. Declarer
told dummy to play a
club. As dummy reached
for a low club, declarer
immediately said, ‘No,
the ace.’ Dummy played
the ace but declarer’s
RHO said, ‘You cannot
do that, you asked for a
low one.’ Declarer called
for the director and said,
‘Sorry I made a mistake
with my first call.’ The
director ruled that the
low club must stand.
Is that reasonable?
Bob Graham by email.
A
When declarer
asks for a club, it
does mean a small
club. Nevertheless, declarer
may correct an inadvertent
designation if he does so
without pause for thought. It
is for the director to decide
whether he made a mis-
take and called for a small
club, then tried to change
his mind when he realised
it was a mistake, in which
case the small club stands.
Alternatively, the director
may decide that he intended
to play the ace but called for
the wrong thing, in which
case declarer may change
it to the card he intended.
Therefore, the director
has to make a judgement:
his ruling was reasonable.
♣♦♥♠
Q
I would much
appreciate
hearing from you
as to the correct method
of folding travellers,
assuming there is a
correct way. Having
been a member of two
large bridge clubs in
the past, I have been
schooled to fold them,
starting in an upright
position to the left and
right, in such a way that
if anyone should wish to
check whether they have
played a board, or want
to check back for any
other reason they will be
unable, inadvertently,
to see details of
contracts played.
I have been informed
recently by an expert
player that the method
I describe is wrong and
that the traveller, while
still in upright position,
should be folded top to
bottom, or vice versa.
I was told that if there
was a need to check
whether a board had
been played this should
be done by the director
only. Be that as it may,
in reality the checking
back of travellers during
a session is often done
by players and very
often by a director
who is also playing.
John Peace,
Stratford-upon-Avon.
A
There is no standard
way of folding
travellers and your
so-called expert player is
just another person who
likes telling people what
to do. I suggest you ignore
him.
♣♦♥♠
Q
My partner was
declarer after
a competitive
auction. Her RHO stated
(before the lead) that
her partner should have
alerted her bid. As I
started to remonstrate,
her partner compounded
this infraction by
explaining how he
Page 13
interpreted her bidding.
I called the director and
complained that the
defenders were giving
each other information.
The director ruled that it
was only fair to declarer
to give the clearest view
of the opposing bidding.
I suggested that they
should announce the
failure to alert only
after the last trick was
complete, after which the
director could investigate
for any damage. Please
could you clarify?
Frans Vas Nunes by email.
A
You were right; the
director was not. As
a matter of law, if
there is a wrong explanation,
alert or announcement, or
if there was a failure to alert
or announce, defenders
must say nothing until the
end of the play and tell
their opponents then.
This is different from
declarer or dummy, who
must tell opponents at
the end of the bidding.
Perhaps the director
should have read this
rule from his law book.
♣♦♥♠
Q
At bridge drives,
the accepted
procedure of
playing the cards is
for each person to put
her card face up in the
centre of the table. The
winner of the trick, or her
partner, collects all four
cards and puts these face
down in a pile of four in
front of her. However, at
almost every event my
partner and I meet a
couple who try to insist
E-mail your questions on bridge laws to:
davidstevenson@mrbridge.co.uk
on playing the cards
as though we are at a
duplicate session. I refuse
to do this on the grounds
that 1) I find it confusing
to switch methods during
the session and 2) I feel
that if people choose to
come to a non-duplicate
event, they should be
prepared to play the
cards by the method
adopted by that event.
Usually, my refusal leads
to the other partnership
making heavy weather
of playing the cards,
with much eye rolling,
sighing and complaining.
This is distracting as
well as making for
a bad atmosphere
which spoils my partner’s
and my enjoyment
of the event. 
Am I within my rights
to insist on playing by
the approved method
for that event? If
so, could you please
advise me on how to
handle the situation.
Penelope Daggett by email.
A
You are certainly
within your rights.
When you play
rubber bridge you follow
rubber bridge rules unless
all four players agree
otherwise. No doubt in
these drives this pair is
annoying other players.
You will have to report this
to the organisers of the drives
and ask them to deal with
this pair. Upsetting people by
insisting on duplicate style,
or complaining throughout
if not doing so, is rude
and against the laws.
This pair needs to be
told to behave, or just play
duplicate. ■
Travel on board V OYAGER
a
ll Voyager cruises will have an exclusive
group on board. All clients will be invited to
the drinks parties. For passengers that opt to pay the £30
bridge supplement; there is duplicate bridge every evening,
seminars every morning and afternoon bridge each day the
ship is at sea and one of Bernard Magee’s bidding quizzes.
The bridge is a fully optional programme and you may
participate as much or as little as you wish. Singles are most
welcome and will always be accommodated. If space allows
any bridge playing passengers will be able to participate in
the afternoon bridge session however, priority will always be
given to passengers.

is pleased to say he is receiving bookings from an

increasing number of non-bridge playing passengers, they
enjoy the opportunity to be part of a group and the social
benefits this gives to those travelling alone.

dinner on board Voyager is open sitting which allows for greater

flexibility. However, we have arranged for clients
to meet up with those in similar circumstances and sit at tables
together. Being part of a group means passengers
should never feel they are alone.

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 Answers to Julian Pottage’s 
Defence Quiz on the front cover
Partner leads the ♠5. You win with the ♠J. Your partner seems to have struck
1. ♠ K ♠K, South playing the ♠3. What do you declarer’s weak spot. You certainly want
♥ 8 5 3 return? to continue spades. Although the usual
♦ A J 9 6 2 ♠6. While you have quite an attractive card to return from an original four-card
♣ K 9 7 4 heart suit of your own, you have no suit is your fourth best, common sense
♠ Q 10 8 6 4 ♠ A 7 3 2 real reason to switch. For all you know, has to take precedence over signalling
N
♥ 10 6 2 ♥ K J 7 partner has led from A-10-x-x-x and the rules.
W E
♦ 8 3 S ♦ 7 5 4 spade suit is ready to run. If the lead is from K-9-x-x, you need
♣ Q 10 2 ♣ J 6 3 The normal card to return from an orig- to return the jack to pick up declarer’s
♠ J 9 5 inal three-card holding is the higher of queen and pin dummy’s ten. You do not
♥ A Q 9 4 your remaining cards, in this case, the six. want to return the two and have it run
♦ K Q 10 Since the two of spades is missing, round to the ten. On this occasion, no
♣ A 8 5 partner will work out that you cannot confusion should arise about your spade
have started with four, which means holding because South has denied four
declarer has a spade stopper. Hoping spades in the bidding.
West North East South that you have an entry, in diamonds or
1♥ perhaps the ace of clubs, partner can
Pass 2♦ Pass 2NT then duck the second round of spades,
Pass 3♥ Pass 3NT maintaining communication in the suit. 4. ♠ A 9 5 4
End If you returned the two mistakenly, ♥ 10 7
partner would probably go wrong, either ♦ Q J 2
Partner leads the ♠6 to your ♠A. What do giving up on the suit altogether thinking ♣ A Q J 5
you return? that you have a doubleton or, more likely, ♠ Void ♠ J 10 8 2
♠2. The usual rule is to return your assuming that you began with four. ♥ K 5 2 N ♥ J 9 8 6 4
W E
partner’s suit. You have no reason to ♦ K 10 8 6 4 S ♦ A 3
depart from that. The usual card to play ♣ 9 6 4 3 2 ♣ 10 8
back from length is your original fourth ♠ K Q 7 6 3
best, which is the two. This will enable 3. ♠ 10 5 ♥ A Q 3
partner to count declarer for only three ♥ K J 8 3 ♦ 9 7 5
spades and so work out that the whole ♦ A Q 10 6 2 ♣ K 7
spade suit is ready to run. ♣ K 10
♠ K 9 7 4 ♠ A J 6 2
♥ A 6 2 N ♥ 10 7 5 West North East South
W E
♦ 9 3 S ♦ J 5 4 1♠
2. ♠ Q J ♣ 9 6 4 2 ♣ J 8 3 Pass 2♣ Pass 2♠
♥ 10 8 3 ♠ Q 8 3 Pass 4♠ End
♦ A K 8 6 2 ♥ Q 9 4
♣ Q J 7 ♦ K 8 7 Partner leads the ♦6. You capture the ♦J
♠ A 9 7 5 4 ♠ K 6 2 ♣ A Q 7 5 with the ♦A, collecting the ♦5 on your
N
♥ K 6 W E ♥ Q 9 7 5 2 left. What do you return?
♦ 9 3 S ♦ Q 10 4 ♥6. If partner has led from the king,
♣ 8 4 3 2 ♣ 6 5 West North East South as is possible, you can return the suit
♠ 10 8 3 1NT1 and collect the first three tricks via a
♥ A J 4 Pass 2♣ Pass 2♦2 ruff on the third round. You would then
♦ J 7 5 Pass 3NT End lead up to dummy’s weakness in hearts.
♣ A K 10 9 1
12-14 Unfortunately, declarer wins the rest with
2
No four-card major five trumps, four clubs and the ace of
hearts. Given your trump holding, you
West North East South Partner leads the ♠4. You win with the know the ruff is useless. You will make
1NT ♠A, seeing the ♠3 on your left. Which a trump anyway. You should switch to a
Pass 3NT End card do you return? heart at trick two. ■

Page 16
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Page 17
BERNARD MAGEE
Filmed Live at Haslemere Festival
2011
1 Ruffing for Extra Tricks
This seminar deals with declarer’s use of ruffing
to generate extra tricks and then looks at how the
defenders might counteract this.
2 Competitive Tricks
This seminar focuses on competitive auctions from the
perspective of the overcalling side to start with and
then from the perspective of the opening side in the
second part.
3 Making the Most of High Cards
This seminar helps declarer to use his high cards more
carefully and then looks at how defenders should care
for their precious high cards.
4 Identifying & Bidding Slams
The first half of this seminar is about identifying when
a slam might be on – one of the hardest topics
to teach. The second half covers some of the
techniques used to bid slams.
5 Play & Defence of 1NT Contracts
This seminar looks at the most common and
yet most feared of contracts: 1NT. The first half
looks at declaring the contract and the second
part puts us in the defenders’ seats.
6 Doubling & Defence
against Doubled Contracts
The first half of this seminar explores penalty
doubles and the second half discusses the
defence against doubled contracts.
DVDs
Each £25. Boxed Set of 6 £100
Make your cheque payable to Mr Bridge and send to: Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH
( 01483 489961 www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop
2012
7 Leads
Bernard takes you through all the basic leads and the
importance of your choice of lead. If you start to think
not just about your hand, but about your partner’s too,
then you will get much better results.
8 Losing Trick Count
A method of hand evaluation for when you find a fit.
Bernard deals with the basics of the losing trick count
then looks at advanced methods to hone your bidding.
9 Making a Plan as Declarer
Bernard explains how to make a plan then expands on
how to make the most of your long suits. The first half
deals with no-trumps, the second with suit contracts.
10 Responding to 1NT
This seminar deals with Transfers and Stayman in
detail. The 1NT opening comes up frequently, so having
a good, accurate system of responses is paramount.
11 Signals & Discards
This seminar deals with Count, Attitude
and Suit-preference signals: aiming to get
you working as a partnership in defence.
12 Endplays
Bernard takes you through the basics of the
technique before showing some magical hands
where you take extra tricks from defenders. In the
second half, Bernard looks at how to avoid being
endplayed as a defender.
DVDs
Each £25. Boxed Set of 6 £100
Fax 01483 797302
 Answers to David Huggett’s 
Play Quiz on the front cover
You are declarer in 6NT and West leads
1. ♠ 8 3 2 the ♠J. How do you plan the play?
♥ Q 7 6 You can count eleven easy tricks. The
♦ K J 10 twelfth may come either from a winning
♣ A 7 4 3 heart finesse or from an extra diamond.
♠ Q J 10 6 ♠ 9 7 4 So try to combine the chances. Clearly, a
N
♥ A 3 ♥ K 8 good idea would be to play on diamonds
W E
♦ 9 7 6 2 S ♦ A 8 4 3 first. However, should you cash the ace-
♣ Q 10 5 ♣ J 9 8 6 king and neither the queen nor jack ap-
♠ A K 5 pears, you would be wary of playing a
♥ J 10 9 5 4 2 third round in case they did not break; so
♦ Q 5 it is better to duck a diamond first.
♣ K 2 A further point is this: if you duck a dia-
mond into the East hand, a cunning de-
fender might play back a heart, forcing
You are declarer in 4♥ and West leads you to guess whether to take the heart
the ♠Q. How do you plan the play? finesse or play for some other favour-
While it might look natural to start able position. So win the lead in dummy
drawing trumps immediately, that would and play a diamond to the nine. Even if
be wrong. If you try that, the defender it loses, you can still test the suit (hoping
who wins will play back another spade, for the remaining diamond honour to fall
setting up a winner for his side in that in two or three rounds) before relying on
suit. a kind position in hearts.
Therefore, your first priority should be
to find a parking space for your spade
loser; you can do that by knocking out 3. ♠ 7 4 3
the ace of diamonds. Then, when a ♥ Q 5
spade comes back, you play the two ♦ A K J 10 6
master diamonds, discarding the losing ♣ K 7 4
spade from hand. ♠ A 10 5 ♠ Q J 9 8 2
N
All you really need is for the diamonds ♥ J 10 9 6 3 ♥ 8 4
W E
to break no worse than 5-3 (or for ♦ 8 7 4 S ♦ Q 2
someone to hold a doubleton diamond ♣ 8 5 ♣ Q J 10 9
but no low trumps). Only after taking the ♠ K 6
spade discard should you start drawing ♥ A K 7 2
trumps. ♦ 9 5 3
♣ A 6 3 2
2. ♠ A Q 6
♥ 7 3 2 You are declarer in 3NT and West leads
♦ K 10 6 5 the ♥J. How do you plan the play?
♣ K J 4 Although the play looks easy, you do
♠ J 10 9 5 3 ♠ 8 7 4 have to be a little careful. With seven
N
♥ K J 9 5
W E
♥ 10 8 4 tricks on top, you are looking for two
♦ 8 4 S ♦ Q J 7 2 more; clearly, the diamond suit will pro-
♣ 7 6 ♣ 9 8 3 vide those. Even so, if you do the instinc-
♠ K 2 tive thing and take a diamond finesse,
♥ A Q 6 two awful things might happen. East
♦ A 9 3 might win and return a spade; if this
♣ A Q 10 5 2 happens, you are in danger of losing a
bucket load of tricks in that suit.
Page 19
Since you can afford to lose a dia-
mond, play off the ace and the king first.
On a good day, you will drop the dou-
bleton queen in the East hand, thus re-
moving any danger from that quarter. If
West has Q-x-x, you will lose a diamond
but your ♠K will be a sure stopper.
4. ♠ Q 9 3
♥ Q
♦ K 9 8 7 5 4 3
♣ A 8
♠ 8 5 ♠ 4 2
N
♥ K J 9 7 3 W E ♥ 10 6 4 2
♦ 6 S ♦ Q J 10 2
♣ K 10 9 5 4 ♣ J 7 2
♠ A K J 10 7 6
♥ A 8 5
♦ A
♣ Q 6 3
You are declarer in 7♠ and West leads
the ♠8. How do you plan the play?
With so many trumps, it is tempting
to draw the missing ones immediately.
Unfortunately, if you do that, you will
fail every time the diamonds break 4-1
because you will have insufficient entries
to dummy to ruff two diamonds and get
back to enjoy them. Thus, you have to
cash the ace of diamonds at trick two;
then play a spade to the queen and ruff
a diamond. It does not matter if trumps
are 3-1 because you can still reach dum-
my with the nine to ruff yet another dia-
mond. After that, the ace of clubs allows
you to reach your diamond winners. In
all you make six spades, five diamonds
and two outside aces. ■
BEGIN BRIDGE
£66
ACOL VERSION
An Interactive Tutorial
CD with Bernard Magee
See Mail Order form on page 7.
 Julian Pottage answers your bridge questions
Q
I opened 1♠
holding 14
points and six
good spades. My wife
jumped to 5♣ as she
had 12 points and an
8-card club suit to the
king-jack. We went one
off. All the other tables
played in 4♠, which they
made, in some cases
with an overtrick.
Afterwards, I said she
should have bid 3♣ –
a jump shift showing
a game-going hand
with long clubs. She
agrees she went too
high, saying she should
have bid 4♣. We would
both like your views on
the correct response.
Mike Armstrong by email.
A
When partner opens
the bidding and
you have opening
values yourself, you do not
want to pre-empt. Responder
should start with a simple
2♣ or possibly with a
strong jump shift of 3♣. It
sounds as if 2♣ the first time
and 4♣ the second time
would be the best way to
describe her hand – loads
of clubs but not quite the
values for a jump shift.
I recommend strongly
that you play 1♠-4♣ as a
We Played in
the Wrong Game
splinter, showing a raise
to game in spades with a
shortage in clubs. If you
played in a tournament,
you would find everyone is
doing that. Therefore, an
immediate 4♣ response
would not be an option.
♣♦♥♠
Q
What would
you recommend
leading with
the following hand?
♠ 10 9 8 7 4
♥ 9 8 N How should we have bid?
W E
♦ Void S Guy Arnoux, Wells.
♣ A 8 6 5 4 2
West North East South
1♥
Pass 1♠ Pass 3♥
Pass 4♥ End
Ron Atkinson by email.
A
Although, in general,
an unsupported ace
is not a good lead,
it seems the clear choice
here. If the opponents were
in a slam, you might think of
underleading it – trying to
get partner in to give you a
diamond ruff – but that does
not seem right against game.
Page 20
I would not lead a spade
because declarer is likely to
be short in spades and be
happy to discard a club loser
or two on dummy’s spades.
♣♦♥♠
Q Q
I opened 1NT
with 12 points
and four spades
to the ace-queen. My
partner bid 4NT; I
passed, thinking it was
quantitative. She had 23
points and said it was
Blackwood. We made 12
tricks, missing one ace.
A
Your own bidding
sounds fine.
With 23 points
facing 12-14, partner
should be driving at least
to a small slam. Besides,
it is impossible for there to
be two aces missing when
your side has at least 35
points between you.
The correct, but rare,
response for partner is 5NT.
This invites you to bid a
grand slam (usually 7NT)
if you are maximum and
to sign off in a small slam
(6NT) if you are minimum.
When you have balanced
hands, the important thing
is whether you have the
values for a grand slam.
You could easily have all
four aces, but not have the
values for a grand slam.
♣♦♥♠
You hold a
4-card major
and a 5-card (or
longer) club suit. Partner
opens 1 diamond.
Under what
circumstances should you
respond in the 4-card
major (at the 1-level) in
preference to the longer
club suit at the 2-level?
John Crowe, Ledbury,
Herefordshire.
A
The usual rule is
that if your hand
is strong enough
for a responder’s reverse
then you show the long
suit first, planning to show
the major next time; if
your hand is too weak for
a responder’s reverse,
you just bid the major.
Traditionally, you need
11 points for a responder’s
reverse. An increasing
number of players are
treating it as a game force, in
which case you would need
12/13 to be responding 2♣
with this type of hand.

Ask Julian continued ♣A twice). What are
your thoughts on our
bidding? How should
we have bid the slam?
Q
The bidding David Nicholls, Llandudno.
proceeded
A
as follows: Standard Acol
includes strong jump
West North East South shifts, so North
1♥ Pass 2♥ Dbl should start with 2♠ rather
End than 1♠. As the jump shift
creates a game force, you
South had a good hand can take things slowly with
with support for the 3♣. After partner rebids
other suits. North passed 3♠, showing a long strong
this out, assuming spade suit, you are too good
that this was a penalty for a simple raise to 4♠:
double. Who was right? you should cue bid 4♦. It
Heather Toynbee by email. should be easy to reach the
slam from there. At the very
A Q
This is definitely a least, partner will make a
take-out double: return cue bid of 4♥. With
South has not 16 points facing a strong
had the chance to double jump shift, you will not be
previously and the opponents giving up at the game level.
had agreed hearts. Even if On your actual sequence,
East had bid a different suit, partner could have bid
double would still be for take- 3♠, (forcing) rather than
out. North should pass only 4♠. However, as I suspect
when holding a heart stack you would have bid 3NT
(unlikely on this auction). over 3♠ it would not
have helped much.
♣♦♥♠
♣♦♥♠
Q
Playing standard
Q
Acol, my partner Should I have
and I bid: bid my weak
major suit at the
3-level or my ‘longest
♠ K Q J 8 6 5 3 and strongest’ minor suit
♥ A J 9 at the 4-level? I held:
♦ A
♣ J 5
N ♠ 7 4
W E
S
♥ J 9 6 5 N inferring North is
W E
♦ 7 6 S 4-6 in the majors?
♠ A ♣ A Q 7 5 4
♥ K 5
♦ K 9 4 2
♣ K Q 8 7 6 3 West North East South
3♦ Dbl Pass
? ♣ A J 4 2
North South
1♣ If you reverse the clubs
1♠ 3♣ and diamonds (and
4♠ End make the opening
3♣), what would you
Partner then made 13 recommend then?
tricks (East ducking his Name and address supplied.
Page 21
A
With your actual
hand, I would bid
3♥. This keeps
the bidding lower and
is a suit partner will be
expecting you to bid.
Switch the minors (and
the opening bid to 3♣) and
the decision is much closer
because you can show either
suit at the three level.
Partner will not always
have the perfect shape for
a take-out double. If you
are going to find 3-card
support in dummy, you
would rather play in a
5-3 fit than a 4-3 fit.
Then again, if you can
make the same number of
tricks in either suit, you would
rather play in the major
because it scores more and
requires a trick fewer for
game. I think I would still
bid the major because you
have a few values and do
not mind if partner decides
to raise you to game.
♣♦♥♠
Q
With N/S playing
weak two
openings, the
bidding went as follows:
West North East South
Pass 1♦ Pass
Pass 1♥ 2♦ Pass
Pass 2♥ 3♦ End
Could South have
bid 3♠ on this hand,
♠ K 10 8 7
♥ 10 3
♦ A J 2
Emma Jones by email.
A
Holding a 4-card
spade suit is one
possible explanation
of North’s failure to open a
weak 2♥ despite obviously
having a 6-card heart suit.
A weak heart suit is the other
plausible explanation.
An argument in favour
of the weak heart suit
option is that, after East has
repeated the diamonds,
North could have re-opened
with a double but chose not
to. Therefore, 2♥ suggests a
hand without four spades.
It would be somewhat
imaginative for South to
bid 3♠, though doubling
3♦ would be reasonable.
♣♦♥♠
On the hand
below, I made 4♠.
Unfortunately,
everyone else was
in 3NT, also making
ten tricks on the
standard heart lead.
♠ K Q J 6 4
♥ K 7 4 3
♦ 10
♣ K J 10
Me Partner
1♦
1♠ 2♣
2♥1 2♠
4♠
1
Fourth-suit forcing
Should I have bid 3NT
in the first place or
after partner’s spade
support (on ♠A-2)?
David Lampert by email.
A
Partner’s 2♠ does
not guarantee 3-card
spade support (he
could jump to 3♠ with
genuine support), so you
should take the bidding
more slowly. You should
bid 2NT (forcing because
you bid fourth suit the
round before) to see what
partner does.

Ask Julian continued
Q
Playing Benji
Acol, we would
like to use weak
jump overcalls like
opening weak twos.
Although they do not
often occur, how do we
show strong overcalls?
Name and address supplied.
A
With a hand on
which you would
have made a strong
jump overcall, there are
two possible approaches:
(i) you can make a simple
overcall with a view to taking
further action on the next
round, such as doubling or
perhaps repeating your suit;
(ii) you can start with
a double and introduce
your suit later.
Modern thinking is that (i)
is more suitable than (ii) on
most hands. This is because,
if the opponents escalate
the bidding, partner will at
least know your best suit.
♣♦♥♠
Q
I had trouble
responding to
partner’s 1NT
(weak) with this hand:
♠ A J 7 5
♥ 9 6 4
♦ A K 9 5 4
♣ 2
My partner does not
like me to support her
no-trump when I have
a singleton, so I tried
the Stayman route.
The auction went:
1NT-2♣-2♦-3♦-End.
She held four clubs
and 3NT would
have made.
Rupert Timpson by email.
A
I too would have
started with Stayman.
On the next round,
I would bid 3NT. Partner is
likely to have four clubs when
she does not have a four-
card major, especially when
you have more diamonds
than clubs yourself. Your 3♦
should be forcing anyway.
♣♦♥♠
Q
You hold 16-19
points with a
5-card minor and
a 4-card major, shape
say, 4-2-5-2. If you open
with the minor suit and
your partner bids 1NT
(denying a major suit)
should you force your
partner by reversing?
Bernard Coffey by email.
A
If you have a 4-card
major and you know
your partner does
not, it can be a good idea
simply to pass, raise to 2NT
or raise to 3NT (with 16,
17-18 or 19 points
respectively). You bother to
show your second suit only if
you have a serious interest
in a suit contract (4-1-5-3
shape, for example).
♣♦♥♠
Q
When you were
discussing
wriggles over
1NT, you said that you
like to have the option of
playing in 1NT doubled
(but not redoubled).
How important do you
regard the ability to
play in 1NT doubled?
Chris Dawe (similar
from Huw Jones).
A
If you are playing
matchpoints and
you are going one
down non-vulnerable, there
is a huge difference between
losing 100 (doubled) and
Page 22
200 (redoubled). The former
may be a reasonable score;
the latter is unlikely to be. If
you are vulnerable or going
down more than one, the
penalties for failure in a
redoubled contract are more
severe whatever the scoring
method. This is why you do
not want to have to play in
1NT redoubled. Remember,
if you run to a suit, you are
contracting to make an extra
trick without any assurance
of finding a fit, so it is often
better to stay at the one
level. I would not want a
convention to force me into
running from 1NT doubled.
♣♦♥♠
Q
Playing with
a stranger,
the bidding
was as follows:
♠ A Q 3
♥ Void
♦ Q J 10 8 7 5 4 3 2
♣ 5
  N Partner opens
W E
S
♠ K 6
♥ Q J 9 7 6 3
♦ A
♣ A K 7 2
North South
1♦ 2♥
3♦ 3NT
4♦ 5♦
End
Should either player
have made a cue bid?
I think that I, North,
could have taken
stronger action.
Edward Bland, Bristol.
A
Freak deals are
difficult to handle.
I would be opening
5♦ rather than 1♦. Then
everyone else would have
to guess what to do.
On your actual auction,
South might have made a cue
bid rather than simply raising
4♦ to 5♦. This might (or might
not) have excited North.
♣♦♥♠
Q
People tell me
constantly that
you cannot open
an Acol 1NT (12-14) with
a 5-card major. Even
if the major has just a
single honour and you
have no other 4-card
suit, you have to open
the major, which I think
can give you a rebid
problem. Is this right?
Ray Enever by email.
A
This question comes
up quite often.
With a 5332 shape
and a poor 5-card major,
it is acceptable, indeed
desirable, to open 1NT.
♣♦♥♠
Q
1♦. I hold:
♠ J 8 5
♥ 9 4
♦ K Q 9 3
♣ A 8 7 2
Should I support the
diamonds or bid clubs?
Does it make any
difference if the other
4-card suit is a major?
Michael Hunt,
Ware, Hertfordshire.
A
When the secondary
4-card suit is a
minor, you just ignore
it and make a limit raise
to 3♦. Yes, it does make a
difference if the other 4-card
suit is a major. Then it is
normal to show the major
before supporting partner.
 Ask Julian continued
Q
After partner
opens 1♥, if I
hold four hearts,
11/12 points and 7 losers,
I would go straight to
4♥. People tell me that
this would be a shut
out and that I should
bid 3♥; they say this is
stronger than raising
to 4♥. Are they right?
Geoffrey Down,
Padbury, Buckingham.
A
Bidding 3♥ is not
stronger than 4♥. If
you think the hand
is strong enough to insist
on game, you do not want
to make a limit bid of 3♥.
However, you should reserve
the jump to 4♥ for shapely
hands with no more than 10
HCP. Some pairs play either
2NT or 3NT as the way to
show a game forcing raise
of opener’s major. If you do
not want to do that, you can
start with a new suit and bid
4♥ next time (traditionally
called a delayed game raise).
♣♦♥♠
Q
My partner
opened 1♥; I
had four hearts
and eight losers, so I
bid 3♥. A defender then
told me that playing
Acol a jump from one to
three of a suit showed
an ace (which I did not
have). I have not heard
of this; is it true?
Brian King by email.
A
The requirement to
hold an ace for a
limit raise is a new
E-mail your questions for Julian to:
julianpottage@mrbridge.co.uk
one on me too. Sometimes,
people who have played all Cheltenham Andrew Kambites’
their bridge within a small
circle of players can get
Regency Lead Quiz
some funny ideas about Hotel You are West in the
what counts as normal. auctions below playing
Perhaps the player in Cheltenham GL51 0ST teams or rubber bridge.
question is confusing the It is your lead. (Answers
auction with 2♥ (Acol)- on page 26.)
Pass-3♥. Traditionally, 3♥
in that sequence does show
an ace because you would 1 ♠ 7 5
jump to 4♥ without one ♥ A J 6 5 N
W E
♦ A 7 2
(assuming, of course, you S
♣ 10 9 8 7
have the requisite values
and heart support).
West North East South
♣♦♥♠
BRIDGE 1♠
Q
Pass 2♥ Pass 3♥
My partner EVENTS 2013 Pass 4♠ End
and I are
experimenting 5-7 April – £199
with a 5-card major Just Duplicate Bridge
2 ♠ K 2
system. We open 1♣ if we N
17-19 May – £199 ♥ J 8 6
have no 5-card major, W E
Just Duplicate Bridge ♦ J 9 8 7
which promises only a S
♣ J 9 7 2
3-card suit. What is the 12-14 July – £245
response to an opening Bernard Magee
bid of 1♣ if responder Thinking Defence West North East South
has a Yarborough
3NT1
with a shortage in 26-28 July – £199
Pass 4NT2 Pass 5♦3
clubs e.g. 4-4-4-1 Just Duplicate Bridge
Pass 5NT2 Pass 6♦3
or even 5-4-4-0? End
9-11 August – £199
Alan Mansell by email. 1
a long, solid minor
Just Duplicate Bridge
2
Blackwood
A
With a Yarborough 6-8 September – £199 3
one ace and one king.
or other hand too Just Duplicate Bridge
weak to justify
a response, you pass. It 13-15 September – £199 3 ♠ A 5 4 3 2
does not really matter Just Duplicate Bridge ♥ K 2 N
W E
whether partner’s opening ♦ A 4 2 S
11-13 October – £199
promises significant length ♣ A 3 2
Just Duplicate Bridge
in the suit. The fewer cards
you have, the more your 25-27 October – £199
partner is likely to have. Just Duplicate Bridge West North East South
Although you might end 1NT
up in 1♣ undoubled, you 1-3 November – £215 Pass 3NT End
can rescue partner from 1♣ Further into
doubled. If LHO doubles the Auction
1♣ and RHO leaves in the 4 ♠ A J 2
29 Nov – 1 Dec – £215 ♥ K J 10 9 8 N
double, you have the option
Declarer Play W E
to make an SOS redouble to ♦ A 3 2
S
tell partner that you think a ♣ 8 6
6-8 December – £199
better spot is available. ■ Just Duplicate Bridge
Full Board West North East South
No Single Supplement 1NT
Booking Form on page 7. Pass 3NT End
Page 23
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 Answers to Andrew Kambites’ 
Lead Quiz on page 23
The leads in these problems are hardly West North East South West North East South
standard. Treat them as puzzles to solve. 3NT1 1NT
Pass 4NT
2
Pass 5♦3 Pass 3NT End
Pass 5NT Pass 6♦3
2

1. ♠ Q 10 4 2 End While a spade lead is obvious, now is the

♥ K Q 9 8 4 1
a long solid minor 2
Blackwood time for leading a deceptive ♠2, telling
♦ K J 3
one ace and one king. the world you have only four spades. You
♣ K 3 will deceive partner – but partner can
♠ 7 5 ♠ 9 6 North bid 5NT, confirming that the have nothing, so that hardly matters. If
N
♥ A J 6 5 ♥ 2 partnership holds all four aces and you can persuade declarer that you have
W E
♦ A 7 2 S ♦ 8 6 5 4 3 asking South how many kings he holds. only four spades, he will believe that it is
♣ 10 9 8 7 ♣ Q J 6 5 4 Most players play that a gambling 3NT safer to drive out the ♣A and ♦A rather
♠ A K J 8 3 denies a side suit king or ace; if your than take the heart finesse.
♥ 10 7 3 opponents play differently, that is their
♦ Q 10 9 right. Presumably North would have
♣ A 2 bid a grand slam if South had a second 4. ♠ 7 4
king; perhaps South would bid a grand ♥ Q
slam if holding an eight-card suit. In any ♦ 10 9 8
West North East South case, you know that South has all the top ♣ A K Q J 7 4 2
1♠ diamonds, so North holds the rest of the ♠ A J 2 ♠ 10 9 8 6 3
N
Pass 2♥ Pass 3♥ aces. ♥ K J 10 9 8 ♥ 7 5 3
W E
Pass 4♠ End How do you fancy your chances of ♦ A 3 2 S ♦ J 6 5
beating 6♦? Certainly, you have an un- ♣ 8 6 ♣ 5 3
Does a club lead seem obvious? Look pleasant surprise for declarer: the trump ♠ K Q 5
closely at the bidding. N/S have found suit is not as solid as he thinks. However, ♥ A 6 4 2
a 5-3 heart fit before settling for spades. if he needs a spade finesse, it will work for ♦ K Q 7 4
Since partner must have a singleton him – unless you put him to the test before ♣ 10 9
heart, you can see how to beat this: two he knows about the bad trump break. Try
red aces and two heart ruffs. Cash your leading the ♠2 at trick 1. Of course, he
♥A at trick 1. Continue with the ♥J for could finesse dummy’s ♠Q; in practice, West North East South
partner to ruff – why the ♥J? The ♥J is he will not. He will be too worried that 1NT
a McKenney (or suit preference) sig- you have led a singleton. He will surely Pass 3NT End
nal, showing an entry in diamonds, the rise with dummy’s ♠A and have no way
higher ranking of the two remaining side of recovery when he finds the trumps are This looks most promising: although
suits. The defence will take the first four 4-0. If you fail to lead the ♠2 at trick 1, partner can have nothing, you can drive
tricks: ♥A, ruff, ♦A and another ruff. declarer will take the spade finesse later. out the ♥A and ♥Q to set up three heart
tricks to go with the ♠A and ♦A. So is
there anything to think about?
2. ♠ A Q 9 8 3 3. ♠ K 10 The only issue is this, ‘is there any
♥ A K 3 2 ♥ A Q J chance of escaping with only one heart
♦ 4 3 ♦ J 10 9 6 5 loser?’ A singleton ♥A in dummy will not
♣ A K ♣ Q 9 6 help, except in the unlikely event that de-
♠ K 2 ♠ J 10 4 ♠ A 5 4 3 2 ♠ 9 8 7 clarer holds the doubleton ♥Q. However,
N N
♥ J 8 6 ♥ Q 10 9 4 ♥ K 2 ♥ 9 8 7 5 3 what if dummy has the singleton ♥Q? In
W E W E
♦ J 9 8 7 S ♦ Void ♦ A 4 2 S ♦ 3 that case leading your ♥K will be a spec-
♣ J 9 7 2 ♣ 10 8 6 5 4 3 ♣ A 3 2 ♣ 8 7 5 4 tacular success. Does the North hand
♠ 7 6 5 ♠ Q J 6 surprise you? 3NT is an eminently practi-
♥ 7 5 ♥ 10 6 4 cal bid with the long and solid minor. If
♦ A K Q 10 6 5 2 ♦ K Q 8 7 there is a lead to beat it, let the defenders
♣ Q ♣ K J 10 find it. The lead will be coming up to any
tenaces in the South hand. ■

Page 26
READERS’
LETTERS
HOW I FEEL
I have enjoyed your free
publication, BRIDGE, for
years and I have learned
such a lot from it and hope
to continue to do so.
I have never written to you
before but feel I must to tell
you how much I enjoy Sally
Brock’s contributions. She
is someone I can relate to.
As well as her busy bridge
schedule, she has a life out-
side the game. Her touch is
light and refreshing and she
sounds warm and human.
There is no point in
thinking these thoughts
and not passing them
on. So now I have.
Marie Shutte,
Denmead, Hants.  He was always profes-
Mrs Shutte, you are an
example to us all.
TERRY UDALL – R.I.P.
I recall Terry telling me that
he bought The Wessex Bridge
Centre in 1963, rebuilt it
in 1972 and re-opened it
in 1973. The club thrived
and was for many years
the largest in Dorset.
With the possible exception
of a few Weymouth-based
players, The Wessex mem-
bership contained most of
the County’s top players. If
required to put out teams of
8, the second team would
still be quite formidable.
The club hosted most of the
county tournaments and held
an event most Sundays.
It was Terry’s efforts (aided
by his wife Gigi) that gave
the club its deserved repu-
tation. The club met every
day except Saturdays.
Despite running a club that
was always open, Terry made
sure that there was a well-
stocked bar and somehow
had time to be a member
of the EBU Laws and Ethics
Committee. He was recog-
nised as the most knowledge-
able and respected director
in the region and the sessions
were always well organised.
In 2005, the EBU presented
him with the Dimmie Fleming
Award for a lifetime of service
to bridge. The same year, he
retired, closing the Wessex
Bridge Centre.
He continued playing
bridge, primarily with Gigi
and was a regular at
Bournemouth Bridge Club.
sional and a good friend.
He will be sadly missed.
Miles Cowling,
Bournemouth Bridge Club.
They don’t make them
like him these days.
SUGGESTION
We thoroughly enjoy your
magazine and the Bernard
Magee Interactive Acol
Bidding and Defence CDs.
However, we are gradually
becoming hooked on iPads.
Please can you develop
and produce the Interactive
Series, Bidding, Defence
and Declarer Play in a form
suitable for the iPad.
Elizabeth Puxley,
Potters Bar, Enfield.
BACK HOME
On 21 December, I
arrived back in the UK, after
a cruise on m.v. Voyager.
I would like to register my
Page 27
appreciation for the team
led by Tony Richards. I have
never done anything by
myself before but they im-
mediately made me feel at
ease. The organisation was
first class and they gave their
time when we wanted to play
supervised bridge. I cannot
praise them enough. The
seminars were well con-
ducted, questions answered
clearly and no one was ever
made to feel their question
unworthy of a good answer.
Mrs F Casserly,
Lee-on-Solent.
MORE PARTY BRIDGE
At our bridge parties, we
play bridge, but move as
if at a whist drive, with the
winning gent moving up the
numbered tables and the
winning lady moving down.
The losing gent moves round
one seat. This mixes partners
up well. Some of our novelty
hands are announced at
stages throughout the even-
ing. For example, a player
holding the ♠A plays in 4♠.
Players making a trick with
a two get a chocolate from
a selection box provided.
The player with the ♣A plays
in 3NT. Wine is provided
by the club and members
bring an American supper.
Most hands however,
are played as normal. We
keep it simple and ban all
conventions except Stay-
man and Transfers.
Mrs R Bridger, Romsey.
BEGIN BRIDGE
A group of my friends and I
decided to take up bridge.
We are at the stage of total
REDUCE THE COST OF YOUR POSTAGE
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all mint with full gum. Quotations for
commercial quantities available on request.
Values supplied in 100s, higher values available as well
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(/Fax 020 8422 4906 e-mail: clive.goff@londonrugby.com
confusion. Last week, my
brain was so addled I tried
to bid, ‘One no club.’
Then I came across a
piece of software which
transformed my learning of
the game. I waxed lyrical
about this and, of course,
all my friends wanted one.
I told them it was by Barnie
McGrew. ‘Wasn’t he a fire-
man and didn’t he have
friends called Cuthbert,
Dibble and Grub,’ asked
one puzzled listener. He was,
and he did and I realised
my terrible mistake. So may
I apologise to the amazing
Bernard Magee, as it was
his Begin Bridge CD that I
bought. It is the best money
I have spent in a long time.
His explanations are so
clear and he makes it all
sound so easy. I know it
isn’t, but at least I have a
better understanding now.
So, thank you Bernard. I
always knew I would like
bridge, but now I love it, and
his use of the word brilliant
when you get something
right is so encouraging.
Mrs Maria Wood,
Lytham, Lancs.
CORRECTION
As a bridge novice, I am very
grateful for the knowledge
and advice I learn from
reading your magazine.
However, as a rock music
old hand I should like to
point out that it was
Motorhead, not Iron Maiden,
that recorded The Ace of
Spades, see Christmas Quiz
answers in BRIDGE 121. Iron
Maiden recorded Aces High.
Mary Farrell by email.

CHARITY BRIDGE EVENTS
APRIL 2013
10 RNLI
Charity bridge match.
The Institute, Leatherhead.
Tickets £30 a table.
Ann Chapman
( 01372 720020
peter.chapman
@btinternet.com
16 ST. DOMINIC’S CATHOLIC
CHURCH APPEAL FUND
Church Hall, Jubilee Road,
Dursley, Glos. GL11 4ES.
1.30-5pm. £5 pp includes
afternoon tea and raffle.
Pat Uglow
( 01453 542179
Richard & Syd Gwyer Quiz, and the Handicap Pairs
( 01453 860512
19 MS THERAPY CENTRE
Village Hall, Hemingford
Abbots. 10.30am. £14.00.
Jenny Lea JULY 2013
( 01480 455810
21 HOSPICARE
Swiss Teams at Exeter Golf
& Country Club 11am.
£60 per team includes a
salad platter and tea/coffee.
Carol Horgan
( 01392 875513
26 ST WILFRID’S HOSPICE
Inner Wheel Club of
Chichester Bridge Drive.
Lavant Memorial Hall, Pook
Lane, Laven. PO18 0AH.
2pm. £24 per table (inc.
tea). Please bring bridge
cloth and playing cards.
Beverly Guest
( 01243 605503 Derek Fordham
beverleyguest@gmail.com
MAY 2013
9 HUDDERSFIELD PENNINE
ROTARY CLUB
Outlane Golf Club.
12 for 12.30. £44 per table.
Brian Noble ( 01480 463444
( 01484 427356
17 CHILDREN’S CHARITIES
Doddington Village Hall,
March. £14.
10 for 10.30am.
Val Topliss
( 01354 653696
17 FRIENDS OF GIRLGUIDING
Oxfordshire, Eynsham
Village Hall, 10am-3.30pm.
£30 a pair.
Bridget Walton
( 01993 702934
bridgetmwalton@aol.com
E-mail your charity events: maggie@mrbridge.co.uk
29 AFRICAN MISSIONS
Bridge tea, Ladywell,
Godalming, Surrey.
2pm. £32 per table.
Sr. June Shirville
( 01483 419393
junefmdm@hotmail.com
JUNE 2013
12 BREAKTHROUGH BREAST
CANCER Bridge afternoon.
Bartholomew Barn, Kirdford,
West Sussex. RH14 0LN
1.30pm. £20 pp (tables of
4). Sumptuous tea, raffle
and bubbles.
Jo Rees ( 01903 740512
www.bartholomewbarn.co.uk
14 ST MARY’S CHURCH
Eaton Socon, St Neots.
10.00 for 10.30am. £13.50.
Malcolm Howarth
( 01480 212910
4 HUDDERSFIELD PENNINE
ROTARY CLUB
Outlane Golf Club.
12 for 12.30. £44 per table.
Brian Noble
( 01484 427356
7 RUNSWICK BAY RESCUE
BOAT
Bridge Day. Hinderwell
Village Hall. 10am. £16
each to include lunch.
Karen ( 01947 841013 
12 GREAT BARFORD CHURCH
Village Hall, Great Barford.
10.00 for 10.30am.
Tickets £13.50.
( 01234 870324
AUGUST 2013
16 ST IVES DAY CARE CENTRE
Hemingford Abbots Village
Hall. Tickets £13.50.
Don Moorman
SEPTEMBER 2013
5 HUDDERSFIELD PENNINE
ROTARY CLUB
Outlane Golf Club.
12 for 12.30. £44 per table.
Brian Noble
( 01484 427356
OCTOBER 2013
4 ST ANDREWS CHURCH
Mandeville Hall.
Kimbolton. Tickets £14.00.
Mavis Campion
( 01480 860477
Page 28
READERS’ LETTERS
continued
WELL MET
On the Inaugural Cruise of
m.v. VOYAGER there were
two couples from Kintyre,
a remote area of Scotland.
Neil and Hilary MacDon-
ald met James and Celia
Holgate for the first time.
Neil, James and Celia
were all bridge players and
when it came to the competi-
tions they won through. Neil
MacDonald won the Bidding
Competition was won by
James and Celia Holgate.
Mrs C Holgate by email.
SHALL WE OR NOT
We are a club of some 120-
130 members and have
been asked by our chairman
whether or not we would wish
the club to become affiliated
to the EBU. No one seems
to know the ramifications of
this. Could you offer us some
unbiased information of the
pros and cons of joining.
What are the costs to both
club and members? What
are the advantages? What
are the disadvantages? How
will it work at club level?
Tony Snarey,
Glemsford, Suffolk.
This is in hand for
the March issue.
BRIDGE BOOKS
I am about to publish my
first catalogue of largely
out of print and antiquar-
ian books on bridge and
other card games (including
whist, patience, canasta,
bezique, poker, gin rummy)
and packs of cards. If any
reader would like to receive a
Write to Mr Bridge at: Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey
GU21 2TH or e-mail letters@mrbridge.co.uk
E-mail correspondents are asked to include their name,
full postal address, telephone number and to send no
attachments. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.
copy, please email or ring me
and I will send you a copy.
Gordon Bickley
gordonarf@aol.com
( 07530 553594.
 
AS YOU LIKE IT
I recently purchased Bernard
Magee’s DVD Responding to
1NT. Bernard was his normal
professional self and that was
fine. However, the camera
work was not. There were
endless camera switches to
the audience and to Bernard
himself. That made it very
difficult to concentrate on
the boards that were being
displayed on the screen.
I have no interest in see-
ing the audience (unless a
question is being asked) and
very little interest in a shot
of Bernard who is explain-
ing something that is on the
screen. Such a pity. A good
product needlessly spoilt.
Mr J Emerson, Barton-
upon-Humber, Lincs.
A point of view. I will consult
Hugh Dehn, ahead of the
Denham Grove filming.
I’M OLD FASHIONED
1NT is 12-14 points and
no 5-card major.
Mr M J (Dinger) Bell
by email.
SAD NEWS
Liz Hutchinson sadly died of
heart failure late in Decem-
ber 2012. Liz will be greatly
missed by husband Ray,
family and friends. Liz en-
joyed accompanying Ray on
nearly all the many Mr Bridge
cruises and weekend events
which he was privileged to
host, until he himself had to
retire a couple of years ago.
Roger Williams by email.
May she rest in peace. ■
 A to Z of Bridge
compiled by Julian Pottage
R
reveals one potentially weak suit
(e.g. the opponents have bid it or the
partnership has bid the other three
suits), a raise to five of the agreed
major asks partner to bid on with a
suitable holding in the weak suit.
Continuations are:
RABBIT
An inexperienced or weak player. Pass No first- or second- Master 5,000
round control
RACK 5NT King
Apparatus to hold cards for 6 agreed suit Singleton
handicapped players. Any other bid Ace or void in the *** Master 20,000
suit
RAGS
A poor holding, e.g. ‘two rags’, a low For example:
doubleton.
RAISE ♠ A J 7 5 3
To increase the level of the contract ♥ 6 4 N including at least 10 Green Points
W E
in partner’s last-mentioned denomi- ♦ A K Q 9 4 2 S * Premier Master 10,000
nation. West’s last call shown in the ♣ Void
auctions below is a raise.
West North East South West North East South
1♥ Pass 3♥ 3♠ Pass
2♥ ?
West North East South West wants to play in a slam unless
1♠ Pass 2♦ Pass there are two fast heart losers and bids
3♦ 5♠ to ask.
Unless partner has bid the suit RANK
strongly, a raise normally shows 1. The relative value of the cards: the
support for partner’s suit. ace is the highest and the two the
Example hands consistent with the lowest.
above auctions are: 2. The status achieved in a ranking
system.
3. The rank of the suits as used to
Hand 1 Hand 2 distinguish between the major suits
♠ J 9 4 ♠ A J 9 4 2 (spades and hearts) and the minor
♥ A 8 5 3 ♥ 9 4 suits (diamonds and clubs).
♦ Q 9 4 ♦ K J 9 3
♣ 10 3 2 ♣ K 4 RANKING SYSTEM
A system of measuring a player’s
ability and/or experience relative to
RAISE TO FIVE OF A MAJOR other players. The English Bridge
In a slam sequence, when the bidding Union Ranking System works on
Page 29
Master Points accumulated.
Rank Master Points
Local Master 100
Club Master 200
Area Master 500
District Master 1,000
County Master 2,500
Advanced Master 7,500
* Master 10,000
** Master 15,000
**** Master 25,000
***** Master 30,000
Tournament Master 40,000
* Tournament Master 50,000
(further star for each extra 10,000)
Premier Master 5,000
including at least 10 Green Points
(further star for each extra 5,000)
Regional Master 10,000
including at least 25 Green Points
* Regional Master 20,000
including at least 25 Green Points
(further star for each extra 10,000)
Premier Regional Master 20,000
including at least 50 Green Points
* Premier Regional Master 30,000
including at least 50 Green Points
(further star for each extra 10,000)
National Master 30,000
including at least 75 Green Points
Premier National Master 40,000
including at least 100 Green Points
Life Master 60,000
including at least 150 Green Points
Premier Life Master 90,000
including at least 300 Green Points
Grand Master 120,000
including at least 600 Green Points
Premier Grand Master 1,500
Green Points
The SBU, WBU and NIBU have similar
ranking systems.
 JOIN BERNARD MAGEE
TO EXPLORE ANCIENT GREECE
& THE DALMATIAN COAST

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APR 28 MONEMVASIA Greece 7.00am 2.00pm
APR 29 KATAKOLON (Olympia) Greece 7.00am 1.00pm
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 A to Z of Bridge continued
REBIDDABLE SUIT
A suit of five cards, normally headed
by at least two of the top honours (ace,
king, queen). Any six-card or longer
suit. Bidding a suit twice or overcall-
ing in it at the two level or higher nor-
mally shows a rebiddable suit.
Hand 1 Hand 2 squeeze will not operate. Instead, you
♠ 8 4 ♠ 8 4
♥ A J 4 ♥ K 10 4
♦ A Q 5 ♦ A 5
♣ K 9 4 3 2 ♣ K J 9 4 3 2
With the first hand, you do not have a
rebiddable suit. You open 1NT (weak)
or, if RHO opens 1♠, you double. With
the second hand, you do. You open 1♣
or, if RHO opens 1♠ (or a red suit), you
overcall 2♣.
RECAPITULATION SHEET
Sheet on which the results of each
board, the totals for each pair and the
final placings are on display after a
duplicate event.
RECTIFYING THE COUNT
The deliberate loss of a trick or tricks
in preparation for a squeeze. For most
squeezes to succeed, you need to play
the squeeze card when you have the
ready winners to take all the remaining
tricks but one. If you have two tricks
to lose, usually the squeeze will fail.
However, you can often remedy the
situation by giving up a trick before
playing the squeeze card. For example:
♠ 3 2
♥ A K 6
♦ A Q 7 2
♣ A K Q 5
♠ Q J 10 8 ♠ K 9 7 6
♥ 3 2 N ♥ J 10 9 8
♦ 6 5 W E ♦ J 10 9 8 or lead your lowest card (just as you
S
♣ 9 8 7 4 3 ♣ 2
♠ A 5 4
♥ Q 7 5 4
♦ K 4 3
♣ J 10 6
As South, you play in 6NT and re-
ceive the lead of the ♠Q. With eleven
top tricks, the contract will be simple
if either red suit divides 3-3. You can
also succeed if either opponent holds
at least four cards in both red suits, for
then a squeeze is possible. However,
if you win the opening lead and then
cash four clubs, only five tricks will
have gone. Each player will have eight
cards left: anyone who started with
four hearts and four diamonds will
have no difficulty in retaining them; a
duck the opening lead, win the spade
continuation and then cash four clubs.
At this point six tricks will have gone
and only seven cards will remain in
each hand. Neither defender will be
able to retain four cards in both hearts
and diamonds. On this layout, East is
squeezed. Ducking the opening lead
‘rectifies the count’.
RED
1. This is one of the traffic-light terms
that the Laws and Ethics Commit-
tee of the English Bridge Union uses
to categorise psychic bids. A ‘red’
psyche is one where the partner-
ship’s subsequent actions provide
sufficient evidence of an unauthor-
ised partnership understanding to
warrant an adjusted score.
2. Shorthand for describing the vul-
nerability of both partnerships on a
board. The ‘red’ partnership is vul-
nerable but their opponents are not.
RED DOT
A marking to go on a convention
card signifying that the partnership
employs non-standard leads.
RED POINT
Scottish National Master Point,
equivalent to an English Green Point.
REDEAL
A fresh deal following an irregularity
during the original deal or, in Chicago,
a fresh deal after a pass-out.
REDOUBLE
A call that doubles again the value of
the trick score, the penalty for under-
tricks and the bonuses for overtricks
of a contract that an opponent has al-
ready doubled. It will also lead to an
Page 31
additional bonus (‘for the insult’) of
100 points if the contract makes.
Redoubled contracts are rare be-
cause whichever side loses on the deal
is likely to record a large loss. At low
levels, many redoubles are convention-
al, either suggesting general strength
or, if the opponents have made a pen-
alty double, the desire for rescue.
RE-ENTRY
A second entry. A re-entry can be use-
ful for a number of purposes, such as
to repeat a successful finesse or to cash
an established winner.
REFUSE
You refuse (to win a trick) if you play
a low card when you have a winner
available. Duck and hold up are more
common terms for such a play.
RELAY
A bid (often the cheapest bid) that
does not convey any information but
simply marks time while partner de-
scribes his hand. It is common in ar-
tificial systems. For example, with the
Multi 2♦ convention, a 2♥ response to
2♦ says simply that responder wishes
to play in 2♥ if opener has a heart suit.
RELAY SYSTEM
A bidding system employing relays so
that one member of the partnership
describes his hand accurately and the
other decides the final contract.
RELAY TABLE
Table used for boards not in play, par-
ticularly during a Howell movement
or a relay Mitchell. Boards move from
playing tables on to the relay table(s)
and then back to playing tables.
REMAINING COUNT
A method of defensive signalling af-
ter you have not shown your length
on the first play of a suit (for example
if you were covering an honour, play-
ing third-hand-high). If you have an
odd number of cards left, you discard
would play low from an odd number if
you were signalling length on the first
play of the suit.) If you have an even
number left, you play a high card.
For example, suppose you hold
Q-J-6-3 and your first play is to put
 CRUISE FROM
THE SPLENDOURS OF VENICE
TO THE MYSTERIES OF POMPEII

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SUPPLEMENT*
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Your daily duplicate and these special value Mr Bridge prices make this Sea
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Stromboli to the renowned Amalfi coast, then to Sorrento and an excursion
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DATE PORT ARRIVE DEPART
Mr Bridge Passengers The bridge programme is exclusive to Mr Bridge
bookings but is completely optional and Mr Bridge passengers can participate MAY 7 Fly to VENICE Italy
Transfer to Aegean Odyssey overnight
as much, or as little as they wish. There will be a duplicate session every
evening and bridge every afternoon the ship is at sea. Singles are made MAY 8 VENICE Italy overnight
especially welcome – a playing partner will always be found. MAY 9 VENICE Italy 2.00pm
MAY 10 SPLIT Croatia 8.00am midnight
MAY 11 KORCULA Croatia 2.00pm midnight
MAY 12 DUBROVNIK Croatia 6.00am 8.00pm
MAY 13 At Sea
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a choice of restaurants (with open-seating dining) and generously-sized MAY 18 SORRENTO Italy 6.00pm
accommodations, plus the comfort and attentive service of boutique-style cruising. MAY 19 CIVITAVECCHIA Italy 7.00am
Disembark and transfer to
Rome Airport for flight home
special fares from just £1,995 include:
•FULL BRIDGE PROGRAMME •SCHEDULED FLIGHTS & TRANSFERS MR BRIDGE SPECIAL FARES
•EXPERTLY PLANNED ITINERARIES
Standard Inside £1,995pp Superior Outside from £2,650pp
•SHORE EXCURSIONS IN MOST PORTS OF CALL Superior Inside from £2,150pp Deluxe Outside from £3,250pp
•EXPERT ANTIQUITY GUEST SPEAKERS Standard Outside £2,495pp Deluxe Balcony from £3,850pp
•OPEN-SEATING DINING •WINE WITH DINNER ON BOARD
•GRATUITIES ON BOARD Past passengers can SAVE EVEN MORE
•EXCLUSIVE MR BRIDGE COCKTAIL PARTY please call for details

Prices are per person, double occupancy in double cabins; single occupancy in single cabins,

CALL ON 01483 489961 and include MR BRIDGE SPECIAL SAVINGS. *The number of cabins with no single supplement is strictly limited.
Please book early to avoid disappointment.

10093
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www.mrbridge.co.uk ABTA No.Y2206
 A to Z of Bridge continued
up the jack third in seat. You have an
odd number of cards remaining, so
if you lead or discard from the suit,
you play the three. If a partnership’s
primary discarding method is suit
preference or attitude, it is also quite
common to play that a second discard
shows remaining count, even in a new
suit.
REMOVE A DOUBLE
To bid again after partner has made
a penalty double, thus signifying an
unwillingness to defend the doubled
contract. Removing a penalty double
tends to be an exceptional action. You
would need to have significantly better
offensive potential or significantly
weaker defensive potential than your
previous bidding has indicated.
♠ 8 7
♥ 6 N man or Blackwood). Unless partner’s
W E
♦ K J 10 7 4 3 2 S ♦ 8 5 2
♣ Q 10 3
West North East South
1♠ Pass
1NT 2♥ Dbl Pass
3♦
Although the strength of your hand is
within the expected range, your 1NT
response did nothing to suggest a sin-
gleton heart or a 7-card diamond suit.
RENEGE
Old-fashioned term for revoke.
REOPEN THE BIDDING
A call made by a player who is sitting
in the position that, were he to pass,
the bidding would end. He may be act-
ing in a balancing role, deducing that
his partner has some values from the
opponents’ lack of desire to bid higher.
The lower the level, the more likely it is
that you will want to reopen.
REOPENING DOUBLE
A double, intended for take-out, used
by the player in the pass-out seat to
keep the auction alive. A common
situation is for opener to reopen with
a double as an effective way of compet-
ing after partner has passed over an
opponent’s intervention, especially if
negative doubles are part of the system.
♠ A Q 8 6 4
♥ K 10 4 N ♦ J 8 5
W E
♦ A Q 7 3 S ♣ 4 2
♣ 3
West North East South
1♠ 2♣ Pass Pass
? finesse in reserve’.
Double is a much better call than 2♦,
partly because it gives East the option
to convert to penalties by passing and
partly because the best contract may
be in hearts.
REPEATED FINESSE
To finesse more than once in the same
suit against the same opponent.
N
W E
S
♦ A Q J
If you lead a diamond to the queen
and it wins, you will want to return to
the North hand and repeat the finesse
against East’s presumed king by lead-
ing up to the jack.
REPECHAGE
A competition in which competitors,
knocked out in the qualifying stages of
the main event, have a second opportu-
nity to qualify for the final of the main
event by winning a secondary event.
RESCUE
To take out into what you hope to be
a safer contract. The term usually ap-
plies after the opponents have made
a penalty double (or left in a take-out
double for penalties).
West North East South
1♣ Pass
Pass Dbl Pass Pass
1♥
Page 33
West’s rescue into 1♥ suggests long
hearts and short clubs, clearly in a
hand too weak to bid the first time.
West might hold:
♠ 9 8
♥ Q 10 7 5 3 2 N
W E
S
RESERVE
To have an alternative line of play
available, e.g. ‘To keep the heart
RESERVE ONE’S RIGHTS
To alert the opponents at the table
that you believe an irregularity has
occurred and therefore that you may
need to call the Tournament Director.
RESPOND
To make a bid after partner has opened
the bidding, or if partner has made a
conventional asking bid (such as Stay-
bid was forcing, you do not have to re-
spond with a very weak hand.
RESPONDER
The partner of the player who makes
the opening bid. For example, if West
opens 1♣, East is responder.
RESPONDER’S REVERSE
A non-jump rebid by responder in a
new suit that is higher-ranking than
his first and is at the two-level or above.
Opener Responder
1♣ 1♥
2♣ 2♠
By tradition, a responder’s reverse is
forcing for one round, though some
modern players treat it as a game force.
RESPONSE
This is a bid made following partner’s
bid (usually an opening bid but
sometimes a conventional enquiry).
For example, in the sequence
1♣-pass-1♥, the 1♥ is a response to the
1♣ opening. If the response is in the
suit partner bid, it is usual to call it a
raise rather than a response.
The range for a simple response
 A to Z of Bridge continued
at the one level is very wide. You can
have as few as 5 or 6 points. With a
hand unsuitable for a jump shift, you
could have 20 or even more points. For
a two-level response, the minimum
threshold is higher, 9 or 10 points in
Acol, but more in some other systems.
Hand 1 Hand 2
♠ 8 5 ♠ K 4
♥ K 10 7 3 ♥ A K 10 7 4
♦ J 7 4 ♦ 4
♣ Q 8 5 4 ♣ A Q J 7 4
With the first hand, you respond 1♥
to 1♦ (or 1♣) but 1NT to 1♠. With the
second hand, you respond 1♥ to 1♦ (or
1♣) or 2♥ to 1♠.
RESPONSIVE DOUBLE
The use of a double for take-out when
partner has already made a take-out
double and the third player has sup-
ported the opener. For example:
West North East South
1♣ Dbl 3♣ Dbl
The double suggests the values to
compete but with no strong preference
for a particular suit. The partnership
needs to agree how high responsive
doubles apply. Up to and including 4♦
(the highest part-score bid) is popular.
RESTRICTED CHOICE
The Principle of Restricted Choice is a
mathematical principle based on the
assumption that, with two cards of
equal value, a player will play either of
them randomly. For example:
K 10 9 8 7 6
N
(J)-5-4 Q-(J)
W E
S
A 3 2
South, the declarer, cashes the ace and
East drops the queen. Given that with
queen-jack doubleton, East will play
the jack half the time and the queen
half the time, East is roughly twice as
likely to hold the singleton queen as he
is the queen-jack doubleton.
RESTRICTED LICENCE
A treatment or convention licensed by
the EBU for use only in certain com-
petitions.
RESULTS’ MERCHANT
A player who extols the merits of a line
of play, either because on the actual
layout of the cards it would have suc-
ceeded, or because on the actual re-
sults on a board it would have scored
well, rather than on logical analysis.
RETAIN THE LEAD
To keep the lead by playing a card
known to be a winner. If you know the
opponents have enough tricks ready
to run to defeat your contract or make
their contract, it can be a good idea to
play in such a way as to retain the lead.
♠ 7 6
♥ A K 10 9
♦ K J 9 4
♣ 10 9 3
N
W E
S
♠ A 4
♥ J 5
♦ A 10 6 2
♣ A K J 8 2
As South, you play in 3NT and receive
a spade lead. You have seven top tricks
and a successful finesse against one
of the missing queens would give you
two more. However, a losing finesse
would spell instant defeat. You there-
fore play to retain the lead early in the
play, thereby maximising your chanc-
es. You cash the ♦A-K and the ♣A-K.
If neither queen has dropped, you fall
back on playing West for the ♥Q.
RETURN
1. If you lead a suit that your partner
has previously led, this is a return.
2. To make such a lead e.g. West led
a spade. East won with the ace and
returned the three.
3. To re-enter a hand, e.g. South took a
Page 34
heart finesse and returned to dum-
my to finesse again.
REVALUATION
The mental adjustment to the value of
one’s hand in the light of the previous
bidding. For example, a holding of K-x
is likely to improve in value if one’s
right hand opponent bids the suit but
decline in value if one’s left-hand op-
ponent bids it. Even a holding of small
cards can improve (or decline) in value
as the bidding progresses. For exam-
ple, if you have 8-5-2 in a suit and RHO
bids it, you will treat this as a poor
holding as any honours partner has in
the suit will be under the bid. However,
if LHO supports the suit strongly, you
will place partner with a shortage and
adjust upwards, knowing you have no
wasted values in the suit.
REVERSE
A non-jump rebid in a new suit that
takes you above the level of two of
your original suit, usually in a higher-
ranking suit. Any player can reverse,
though the term most commonly ap-
plies to a reverse by opener. In the first
three sequences shown below, the last
bid shown is a reverse.
West North East South
1♣ Pass 1♠ Pass
2♦
West North East South
1♦ Pass 2♣ Pass
2♠
West North East South
1♦ Pass
2♣ Pass 2♦ Pass
2♠
West North East South
1♣ 1♥ 2♦ Pass
2♠
The 2♠ bid in the fourth sequence is
not a reverse; this is because the 2♦ re-
sponse had already taken the bidding
above the level of 2♣.
When a reverse is in a higher-rank-
ing suit, the first bid suit will always be
longer than the second suit. A reverse
nearly always shows values beyond
those already promised.
 A to Z of Bridge continued
REVERSE SIGNALS/DISCARDS
A method of signalling/discarding
whereby you play a low card to encour-
age and a high card to discourage. This
reverses the standard high-low signals/
discards. The chief advantage is that,
with a doubleton, you do not need to
use what may be an important card
that you cannot afford to encourage.
Despite their technical superiority over
standard signals, few pairs use them.
REVERSING THE DUMMY
This is the same as a dummy reversal.
It involves taking multiple ruffs in the
long trump hand, thereby generating
an extra trump winner, while leaving
the short trump hand to draw the op-
posing trumps. Suppose you have a
trump suit of A-Q-10-x-x facing K-J-9.
If you take three (or more ruffs) in the
long trump hand, you will make more
than the five trump tricks with which
you started. For reversing the dummy
to be successful, you will usually need
strong trumps and plenty of entries in
the short trump hand. Another good
reason for reversing the dummy is that
dummy’s trumps are strong but yours
are not. For example, with a trump
suit of 6-5-4-3-2 facing A-K-Q, ruffing
with the high trumps in the short hold-
ing is going to be unproductive.
REVIEWING THE BIDDING
At his turn to call, a player may request
a review of the auction. At duplicate, an
opponent must give such a review and
must include every call, with alerts.
REVOKE
To fail to follow suit when able to do
so. A revoke becomes established when
either member of the offending side
plays to the next trick. The Laws apply.
REVOLVING DISCARDS
A system of discards whereby the
rank of the discard signals for a lead
in another suit. A discard of a high
card asks for the lead of the suit rank-
ing immediately above the suit of the
discard (clubs above spades) and simi-
larly for a low ranking discard (spades
before clubs).
♠ K 8 5
♥ 8 6 4
♦ K 10 9 8 4
♣ J 3
♠ Q J 4 2 ♠ 10 7 3
N
♥ J 9 7 3 2 W E ♥ K Q 5
♦ A 6 5 S ♦ 7 2
♣ 6 ♣ Q 10 9 8 4
♠ A 9 6
♥ A 10
♦ Q J 3
♣ A K 7 5 2
West leads the ♥3 against South’s 3NT.
East plays the queen, taken by South’s
ace. When declarer plays diamonds,
West holds up his ace until the third
round to allow his partner the chance
to signal. Playing ‘revolving discards’,
on the third round of diamonds the ♠3
or the ♣10 will ask for a heart.
RHO
Short for Right-Hand Opponent.
RHYTHM
To bid or play in rhythm is to bid or
play at an even speed.
RIDE
To take a finesse by playing a card and
letting it run, if not covered by LHO.
Q J 10 3 2
N
8 6
W E K 9 4 5♣ zero or three aces
S
A 7 5
You lead the queen from the North
hand and let it ‘ride’ unless East covers
with the king.
RIFFLE SHUFFLE
An effective form of shuffling by in-
terweaving two portions of a pack and
repeating the process several times. A
perfect riffle shuffle (two portions per-
fectly interwoven) is not a true shuffle
at all since a second identical shuffle
restores the pack to its original form.
RIPSTRA
A little used defence to an opening 1NT
whereby a 2♣ overcall shows both ma-
jors with longer clubs than diamonds
and a 2♦ overcall shows both majors
with longer diamonds than clubs.
ROCK-CRUSHER
A hand of tremendous trick-taking
ability; powerhouse is a similar term.
ROLLING BLACKWOOD
After a Blackwood 4NT enquiry some
players use the cheapest available
(non-trump suit) bid to ask for kings.
This goes by the name ‘Rolling Black-
wood’ or ‘Sliding Blackwood’.
ROLLING GERBER
A convention whereby after the
response to 4♣, a relay in the cheapest
non-trump suit subsequently asks
for kings. This also goes by the name
Sliding Gerber.
ROMAN ASKING BIDS
A method of establishing the suitabil-
ity of the two hands for slam purposes.
In certain situations, when a partner-
ship has a trump suit, a bid of a new
suit asks partner to describe his hold-
ing in that suit on the following scale:
1st step no control
2nd step king or singleton
3rd step ace or void
4th step ace-king or ace-queen
ROMAN BLACKWOOD
A version of Blackwood originally
used in the Roman system but now
rare. After 4NT, the responses are:
5♦ one or four aces
The responses of 5♥, 5♠ and 5NT show
two aces, either of the same colour, the
same rank or the two other aces. The
original school of thought was:
5♥ two aces of the same colour
5♠ two aces neither of the
same rank nor the same colour
(ie spades and diamonds or
hearts and clubs)
5NT two aces of the same rank
Some players prefer the CRO prin-
ciple, i.e. 5♥ same Colour, 5♠ same
Rank, 5NT the two Others. A player
can then ask for kings in a similar way.
ROMAN GERBER
A version of Gerber modelled on the
same lines as Roman Blackwood.

Page 35
 CRUISE TO THE TREASURES
OF THE MEDITERRANEAN
FROM RENAISSANCE ITALY TO MEDIEVAL FRANCE

NO
SINGLE
SUPPLEMENT*
Enjoy your daily duplicate on this
voyage through the Mediterranean
FRANCE Marseilles
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11 day cruise from Rome to Cannes departs UK May 19, 2013 Spain Corsica Civitavecchia
This voyage explores the scenery and fascinating history that this sea has to Barcelona Bonifacio Rome
Italy
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DATE PORT ARRIVE DEPART
Mr Bridge Passengers The bridge programme is exclusive to Mr Bridge MAY 19 Fly to ROME Italy
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especially welcome – a playing partner will always be found.
MAY 21 LIVORNO (Florence) Italy 6.00am 9.00pm
MAY 22 Cruising the Maddalena Archipelago
BONIFACIO Corsica 1.00pm 8.00pm
MAY 23 At Sea
MAY 24 PALMA Mallorca, Spain 7.00am 7.00pm
MAY 25 BARCELONA Spain 8.00am 7.00pm
MAY 26 SETE (Carcassonne) France 8.00am 8.00pm
MAY 27 MARSEILLES (Avignon) France 7.00am 8.00pm
Aegean Odyssey ~ cruise in comfort, relax in style Carrying around 350
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 A to Z of Bridge continued
ROMAN JUMP OVERCALL
A system of two-suited jump overcalls
whereby immediate jump suit overcalls
show intermediate two-suiters. You bid
the lower ranking of two touching suits
(excluding the opener’s suit), whilst a
2NT overcall shows a strong unspeci-
fied two-suiter. Since this method does
not allow you to make single-suited
jump overcalls, very few pairs play it.
ROMAN KEY-CARD
BLACKWOOD
A sophisticated variation of Black-
wood in which the king of the trump
suit is like a ‘fifth’ ace; the four aces
and the king of trumps are all key
cards. The usual responses to 4NT are:
5♣ 0 or 3 key cards
5♦ 1 or 4 key cards
5♥ 2 or 5 key cards but not Giorgio Belladonna and used by them
the queen of trumps
5♠ 2 or 5 key cards including The system uses an artificial 1♣ open-
the queen of trumps
5NT 2 key cards plus a useful 17+ points) and canapé.
void
6 suit 3 key cards with void in that ROMAN TWO DIAMONDS
suit (6 of the trump suit A convention whereby a 2♦ open-
shows a void in higher suit)
After a 5♣ or 5♦ response, the 4NT
bidder may continue with a bid in
the lowest non-trump suit to enquire
about the queen of trumps. The re-
sponder returns to the trump suit at
the lowest level without the queen or,
with it, bids 5NT or cue bids a second-
round control. An alternative method
is for responder to proceed: one step
without the queen, two steps with it.
The 4NT bidder can continue with
a bid of 5NT to ask for the non-trump
kings. Responses can be to show the
lowest king or on the standard step
principle:
6♣ 0 king
6♦ 1 king
6♥ 2 kings
6♠ 3 kings
♠ A J 10 7 4 ♠ K Q 8 3
♥ A 8 5 4 N ♥ 6
W E
♦ A Q 5 S ♦ K 8 6 2
♣ Q ♣ A 8 5 2
West East
1♠ 4♥1
4NT 5♠2
5NT 6♦3
7♠
1
splinter a rubber to the nearest hundred, with
2
two key cards and the ♠Q
3
the ♦K or one non-trump king
Roman Key-card Blackwood is a pow-
erful tool and popular amongst tour-
nament players.
ROMAN LEADS
A system of leads whereby one leads
the second highest card from a se-
quence. For example, from K-Q-J-x
you lead the queen. From an interior
sequence, the lead is the same as the
standard lead e.g. from K-10-9-x you
lead the ten.
ROMAN SYSTEM
System devised by Walter Avarelli and
as members of the Italian Blue Team.
ing (either balanced 12-16 points or
ing shows a strong three-suited hand
with, typically, 17-20 high card points.
ROMEX TRIAL BIDS
A method used in conjunction with a
strong club system that allows a player
to make both long-suit and short-suit
trial bids, by employing relays after a
single raise of a major suit.
ROPE
After an opponent doubles a 4NT
ace enquiry, Redouble shows an Odd
number of aces, Pass an Even number.
ROPI
After an opponent doubles a 4NT ace
enquiry, Redouble shows zero (O)
aces, Pass one (I). This method is in
popular use in the UK.
ROTATION
The sequence and order in which the
bidding and play occur at the table.
ROUND
A set of boards in a duplicate event
Page 37
that a pair plays against the same
opposition.
ROUND OFF
To round off the net score at the end of
players rounding 50 either upwards or
downwards.
ROUND ROBIN
A form of contest in which each com-
peting group (team, pair or individu-
al) plays against every other compet-
ing group.
ROUNDED SUITS
Clubs and hearts, so named because of
the shape of their symbols. Likewise,
spades and diamonds are the ‘Pointed
Suits’.
ROVER
A pair in a Mitchell movement that
displaces a different North-South pair
each round, known as a ‘roving pair’.
Using a rover can help to accommodate
a pair that arrives late when there was
originally a complete number of tables.
RUBBER
The best of three games in rubber
bridge. The term ‘rubber’ probably de-
rives from the game of bowls.
RUBBER BRIDGE
The original form of contract bridge
in which the objective is to make two
games before your opponents and
thereby win the rubber bonus. You
can make game by scoring 100 points
‘below the line’ either on one deal or
by accumulating partscores to reach
that total.
RUBBER DUPLICATE
A teams-of-four event in which the
players play boards in a fixed order in
each room until one room reaches the
end of a rubber.
RUFF
To play a trump on the lead of a side
suit. You can ruff a trick if you are void
in the suit led and have one or more
trumps in your hand.
RUFF AND DISCARD
To discard a loser from one hand while
ruffing in the other.
 A to Z of Bridge continued
♠ 2
♥ 2
♦ Void
♣ Void
♠ Void ♠ Void
♥ Void N ♥ A K
♦ Void W E ♦ Void
S
♣ 3 2 ♣ Void
♠ 3
♥ 3
♦ Void
♣ Void
South is declarer and spades are
trumps. If any hand other than West
is on lead then East will win a heart
trick. However, with West on lead and
obliged to lead a club, South can ruff
in dummy and discard a heart from
hand. Alternatively, he could choose
to discard a heart from dummy and
ruff in his own hand. As a defender,
you generally want to avoid giving a
ruff and discard if you can help it.
RUFFING FINESSE
The lead of one of a sequence of high
cards towards a void. If the player in
second seat does not cover, you allow
the lead to run; if there is a cover, you
ruff and return later to cash the estab-
lished winners. For example:
K Q J 10
N
9 8 7 6 2
W E A543
S
Void
As South, you lead the king of this
side-suit from dummy. If East plays
his ace, you ruff, thus establishing the
Q-J-10 as winners. If East plays low,
you discard a loser.
If West held the ace, the ruffing fi-
nesse would fail, though you might
still be able to discard a loser and suc-
ceed in setting up dummy’s winners.
RUFFING TRICK
A trick won by a ruff.
RULE OF ELEVEN
A simple mathematical formula stating
that, if the lead is fourth highest, the
number of cards capable of beating it in
the other three hands is equal to eleven
minus the pip value of the card led.
K52
N
Q 10 8 7
W E AJ96
S
4 3
If East judges that the seven is a
fourth-highest lead, he can use the
rule of eleven. Taking seven from elev-
en leaves four cards higher than the
seven, all of which he can see between
his hand and dummy. He can deduce
that South has no card higher than the
seven and hence that he can play low at
trick one to leave West on lead to play
a second round of the suit through
dummy’s king at trick two.
RULE OF NINETEEN
Rule established by the Laws and Eth-
ics Committee of the EBU, stating that
the minimum agreeable standard for
an opening suit bid at the one-level is
either 11 high-card points or that the
sum of the number of high-card points
and the lengths of the two longest suits
must total at least nineteen.
♠ K
♥ 8 6 5 4 2
♦ A Q 6 4 2
♣ 5 4
With 9 high-card points and two
5-card suits, this hand would be mini-
mally acceptable under the Rule of
Nineteen for an opening bid (9+5+5).
Note that this rule does not suggest
that weak hands of this type justify a
sensible opening bid (especially here
when the singleton king may be worth
fewer than 3 points), but rather that
bidding with a lower total than 19 (at
level 2, 18 at level 3 and above) would
constitute a psyche. Most players use
either the rule of 20 or a more sophis-
ticated rule that also takes account of
the hand’s defensive potential.
Page 38
RULE OF TWO AND THREE
The doctrine, in pre-emptive bidding,
that one should not risk going down
more than two tricks, if vulnerable,
and three tricks if not vulnerable.
If you adhere to the rule, the
opponents double and partner has a
useless hand, you will lose a penalty of
500, broadly the same as an opposing
game.
With the rule, if you have seven
tricks in your hand, you can pre-empt
to the four level non-vulnerable or the
three level vulnerable.
Many modern players pre-empt a
little more aggressively than the rule
of two and three, partly because the
opponents may have a slam if partner
has a bust and partly because the op-
ponents rarely double.
RULING
A decision based upon the Laws of the
game, made by a Tournament Direc-
tor or by an Appeals Committee.
RUN
1. To change to a different suit or to
no-trumps if an opponent doubles
a contract for penalties.
2. To run a suit is to play the suit
card after card without losing the
lead. For example, if dummy has
♣A-K-Q-J-7-5, declarer is likely to
‘run’ the clubs.
3. To take a finesse by leading an hon-
our and play low if a higher honour
does not cover it.
For example:
Q74
N
5 2
W E K863
S
A J 10 9
Here you might lead the queen from
dummy (North) and ‘run’ it, thereby
retaining the lead in dummy for a fur-
ther finesse.
RUSINOW LEADS
A lead method by which you lead sec-
ond highest from a standard honour
sequence (e.g. Q from K-Q-J) and third
highest from an interior sequence (e.g.
10 from K-J-10). ■
 The Diaries of Wendy Wensum
Episode 12: An Aegean Jaunt
Part 1: The Gallic Challenge
L
imnos is a Greek island of
exquisite beauty, a holiday
paradise with cooling breezes
far from the blistering heat of Athens.
Overlooking the sea between Myrini
and Thanos is a village that evokes
the spirit of traditional Greece. The
narrow streets offer an endearing
mixture of faded and freshly painted
white dwellings, some in need of
repair. All paths lead to the main
square where local children play and
old men drink ouzo, musing over
games of backgammon, twisting and
jostling their worry beads. Bordered
on three sides by the church, the
school and shops, the centre of village
life is here. The square is completed
by two tavernas. The leafy canopy of
a grape vine shades one of these. No
menu here. The curious enter the
kitchen to inspect the dishes of the
day, bubbling and sizzling on hobs and
in ovens. In the evenings, the hubbub
of voices continues past midnight,
children as lively as their parents and
grandparents, cousins, uncles and
aunts; the extended family is evident
everywhere. Here, in this village, time
tries to stand still.
Could this peace be maintained?
Was a new conflict about to break out?
Dining at the taverna one evening,
Spouse and I were surprised to hear
snatches of French from the next table.
Pierre and Marie were from Normandy.
Using limited combinations of French
and English, we soon discovered that
they were enjoying their Greek holiday.
The only thing they were missing
was a game of bridge. The table was
soon cleared for action. The chairs
were rather hard and uncomfortable,
demonstrating the inadequacies of
headache cures compared to cushions,
but with a Union Flag on a cocktail
stick set in a bowl of olives in front
of Spouse and the Tricolour similarly
mounted in front of Pierre, the cards
were dealt. The Battle of Hastings was
about to be re-fought.
In the distance, the outline of the
castle at Myrini was fading with the
last glow of sunset, when, one rubber
down and game all in the second, the
following deal occurred:
♠ A 10 9 8 7
♥ 10 2
♦ Q J
♣ 9 8 5 4
♠ 6 4 3 ♠ Q 2
♥ A J 6 5 N ♥ 8 4
W E
♦ K 9 5 4 3 S ♦ A 10 8 7 6 2
♣ 2 ♣ Q 6 3
♠ K J 5
♥ K Q 9 7 3
♦ Void
♣ A K J 10 7
As dealer, I opened the bidding with
one heart, and the auction proceeded:
South West North East
Wendy Marie Spouse Pierre
1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass
2♣ Pass 3♣ 3♦
4♦ 5♦ 6♣ End
With the ace of hearts to lose, the
contract seemed to depend on locat-
ing both black queens. National pride
was at stake. I ruffed Marie’s opening
lead of the four of diamonds. I played
the ace of trumps and all followed, so
far so good. Next, I played the jack of
Page 39
spades; Marie played low smoothly so
I won with the ace. The club finesse
worked but, even so, I removed the op-
ponents’ last trump rather reluctantly.
The play of the king of hearts produced
the ace. The king of diamonds return
was ruffed. I played the queen of
hearts and then ruffed a heart, finding
that the suit did not split. On the ten
of spades, the queen appeared thank-
fully, and the slam was home, giving
us the rubber. Needless to say, Spouse
did not think my line was optimum. I
am sure he was right on this occasion,
although I quite often find his analysis
is about as sharp as a marble.
At one rubber each, we called it a
day with honours even and ordered
another carafe of local wine. The
warm breeze from the sea wafted over
us. ‘You both play well,’ said Pierre,
‘but of course you British invented
the game.’ ‘I think that was America,’
I contradicted in the interests of
accuracy. ‘You invented America?’
questioned Pierre with a hint of
Gallic humour. ‘No, we are definitely
not being fingered for that,’ declared
Spouse emphatically.
It had been a delightful evening and
it was well past midnight when we
agreed to meet our French friends again
for a meal and the deciding rubber
the following day by the harbour in
Myrini. As we ambled slowly back
to our apartment, Spouse remarked
rather belligerently, ‘That makes us
all square in the latest round of the
Battle of Hastings, but now we need to
prepare for a rematch of the Battle of
Agincourt.’ ‘Why, is tomorrow Saint
Crispin’s day?’ I inquired with feigned
innocence. Honestly, like most men,
Spouse can be OTT. ■
 GLOBAL TRAVEL INSURANCE
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 ✄
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328STI12
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 Catching Up
by Sally Brock
M
ost of October
was fairly quiet,
though it started
with a bit of luxury. I took
my parents to lunch at the
Manoir aux Quat’Saisons
near Oxford. This is a truly
fabulous place, perhaps bet-
ter for lunch than dinner
because the gardens are
splendid. Everything about
it was superlative (including
the bill).
Then there was Barry’s
birthday and his accidental
party. What happened was
that Kitty wanted to host
a dinner – to celebrate our
success in Lille. We were
trying to find dates and
focused on the weekend of
October 13-14. She asked
me whether the Saturday or
Sunday would be better and
I mentioned that the Sunday
was Barry’s birthday (it was
Raymond’s birthday too,
so there were moments of
sadness). So Sunday, it was,
and it metamorphosed into
Barry’s birthday party. She
kept asking more people
and it changed into a
party at her apartment (a
penthouse within Chelsea
football ground). Barry got
more presents than he knew
what to do with and we all
had a fabulous time.
Perhaps the most exciting
event at this time was
Briony’s driving test. In
the last issue, I mentioned
that my brother-in-law had
given her a good start when
he came for the weekend. It
was a couple of weeks after
that before she managed
to book some official
lessons, but when she did
the instructor was pretty
impressed. She passed her
Denham Grove
Denham, Buckinghamshire, UB9 5DG
theory test and booked a
test for November 15th.
But patience is not one of
her virtues. She came back
after her fourth lesson and
said that he thought she
was more than ready to take
her test, so she decided to
look for a cancellation. She
found one in Reading, a
town she had never driven BRIDGE EVENTS 2013
in before. So off we went 22-24 March Leads & Defence £215
and she passed, just five Gary Conrad
weeks and one day after her
4-6 October Doubles £215
17th birthday. Now, that’s a
Gary Conrad
fairly major lifestyle change
for us – perhaps the most 25-27 October Finding Slams £215
significant in a normal day Sandy Bell
is that, not having to get
Full Board – No Single Supplement
up and take her to school, I
spend most of the day in my Booking Form on page 7.
pyjamas.
Then, at the very end of
October, in half-term, we
went to Malta for a week,
mostly to stay with our good
friend Mario. However,
Briony had found a Groupon
offer whereby we could stay
for a couple of nights in the
Corinthia Palace, perhaps
the best hotel in Malta, for
not very much, so we ended
our stay doing just that. As
usual, we had an excellent
time (though the weather
could have been better).
Treat yourself to a beautiful
Highspot number one was hand-crafted bridge table.
a day trip to Sicily (we had
Made in France from specially
lunch nearly at the top of selected beech our tables will
Mount Etna). Highspot grace any room.
number two (only after the
Mahogany or cherry finish
event) was that I forgot to
lie about her age to the jet Traditional green felt or luxury velour
playing surface.
ski people so had to go out
on the jet ski with her. We FREE COLOUR Folds flat. Patented Hinging Device
started with her driving BROCHURE Three different models from £149
and me hanging on for grim
death, and then swapped Phone 01483 750611
around so I was driving (at www.bridge-tables.co.uk
about half the speed). That’s S R Designs, 1 Hook Hill Park, Woking, GU22 0PX
another box ticked. ■
Page 43

Monday
The beginning of the week is usually
quiet. I keep forgetting that I no longer
need to go to the gym first thing (be-
cause I don’t have to leave the house to
take Briony to school). It’s not until I
get stuck in the rush hour traffic that
I remember that I could have gone at
10am. I spend most of the day working
my way through my ‘to do’ list. Briony
has joined a gym now she can drive
to it (she has money to spare since she
hasn’t needed most of what she put
aside for driving lessons) and she goes
after school, so is not home until quite
late. We change into our pyjamas, dine
on leftovers and watch TV.
Tuesday
I go to the gym again. Home by
10.30am for an online teaching ses-
sion. In the afternoon, I bid online
with Barry. We are trying to knock
our partnership into shape with the
Tollemache looming and also the Gold
Cup final weekend. We now have an
up-to-date system file – all we need to
do is read it (I have to say that ‘reading
the system’ makes me feel very sym-
pathetic towards the children when
they complain about being bored with
revising for exams). When Briony gets
home, we do a quick supermarket shop
and then home for another evening of
being couch potatoes.
Wednesday
It is my intention to move to London
next year when Briony has finished
school. I am going to put the house on
the market after February half-term.
In anticipation, I am beginning the
process of decluttering … and there is
an awful lot of clutter. I try to make
an effort to get stuff ready for either
the tip or the charity shop whenever
Seven Days
by Sally Brock
I go out. Although I don’t intend to
look for another property until I have
a buyer for this, I am keeping an eye
on Right Move and Zoopla. Anyway,
bridge friends have told me of a con-
tact who knows his stuff regarding
buying property in west London, so I
go in on the train and take him out for
lunch. Lots of interesting advice.
I get back to Barry’s by 3pm for a
session with Richard and Gerry (and
Barry). Later, I meet Nicola on the
Earls Court Road for a Chinese supper
prior to our London League match.
We have a disaster each.
Nicola (East) holds:
♠ K 10 7
N
W E
S
♥ Q J 10 8 4
♦ A Q 7 3
♣ 6
West North East South
1♦
Pass 1♥ Pass 2NT
Pass 3NT ?
She is worried that I’ll lead a club
when a heart would be more success-
ful, so she risks a double. Unfortu-
nately, dummy redoubles and, even
on a heart lead, the contract makes
with two overtricks and we lose 1,800.
Team-mates have bid the slam and are
not best pleased to lose 9 IMPs. De-
spite this, we are still leading at the
halfway stage.
On the first board of the second half,
I propel us into a close slam on these
hands:
♠ 7 ♠ A K 4
♥ A 6 N ♥ K 9 8 3 2
W E
♦ K 7 6 3 2 S ♦ 4
♣ A 9 8 3 2 ♣ Q J 7 6
Page 44
I am declarer as West. Despite the fact
that South has overcalled in spades, I
decide that I need trumps 2-2 with the
king right. If the queen is covered by
the king, I have chances if it is single-
ton and I finesse on the second round,
but that needs other good things to
happen too, so it is simpler to play for
trumps 2-2. When the queen is cov-
ered by the king, I will play one back
to the jack and, on the layout, would
make my slam. However, when South
plays the king, I manage to play a low
one and am thus one down. Oppo-
nents stayed in three no-trumps in the
other room.
Both these boards are double swings,
ie we lose a significant swing whereas
if we had not made the error, we would
have gained a double-figure swing.
Thursday
Today is the annual match between the
Houses of Commons and Lords. This
year, the event is held in the House of
Lords. It is the most beautiful building.
In the past, the event has been held at
the Portland Club or Crockfords and
has included lunch; this year, it starts
at 1.30pm and in the break we have a
House of Lords tea – complete with
cucumber sandwiches, scones with
jam and clotted cream and the most
beautiful tiny cakes. I, rather embar-
rassingly, top up the teapot with what I
think is hot water, but is in fact coffee.
These days, the hands are pre-
prepared and the journalists are issued
with a little booklet with the hands in.
I always think this is a bit unfair on the
players – it must be harrowing enough
to be watched by bridge experts, but
even worse to know that they can see
all four hands. The booklet, prepared
each year by Paul Bowyer, always
contains many hands of interest. In
the last session, I watch Kenneth Baker
play this deal in three no-trumps:
 Seven Days continued er heart. Declarer can succeed now by
exiting with a diamond, allowing West
to cash one heart trick, after which
he has to lead away from his king of
spades. However, declarer misreads
♠ 4 2 the position and goes one down. West
♥ K 5 should have thought ahead and real-
♦ A Q 8 3 ised that his best chance was to blank
♣ K Q 6 5 3 his king of spades and he should have
♠ K 5 N ♠ 8 7 6 3 done it early, without such discomfort.
♥ J 10 9 6 4 2 W E ♥ A 3 The final result is a win for the Lords,
♦ J 7 5 4 2 S ♦ 10 9 taking their lead in the series to 21-17.
♣ Void ♣ J 10 8 7 2 After the match, I go back to Barry’s
♠ A Q J 10 9 and we go out to an Ethiopian restau-
♥ Q 8 7 rant. The base for the meal is injera,
♦ K 6 which is a cross between a pancake
♣ A 9 4 and a chapatti. We order the ‘Special’
and get a large (maybe 16 inch) injera
on a plate and on top are spoonfuls of
West North East South various meats/vegetables in sauces. On
1♠ the side comes a basket of rolled up
Pass 2♣ Pass 2NT injeras. The idea is to break off a piece
Pass 3NT All Pass and wrap it around some of the filling
and then eat – all with your fingers.
West leads the jack of hearts to the Certainly different and quite delicious.
king and ace. East continues the suit
and hearts are cleared. Declarer starts
with a club to the king, when that suit Friday
does not behave most declarers would Barry is working on the south coast.
simply rely on the spade finesse and go I have my laptop with me, but not a
two down. Lord Baker (who was actu- lot of work to do, so I get up late and
ally playing for the Commons) does then meet Margaret for a Lebanese
better and for a moment I think he is lunch on Edgware Road. Then we go
going to succeed (and I am the judge for a ‘stroll in Hyde Park’ (her words),
this year of the Best Played Hand which turns into quite a trek. When
and desperately need to find some- I’m with Margaret we seem to have so
thing). He next plays three rounds of much to talk about that I don’t really
diamonds and when East shows out notice anything else – we must have
on the third round he has a complete walked miles. Still, I’m sure the exer-
count of the hand. cise is good for me. Then back to Bar-
ry’s for a cup of tea before bridge at the
Young Chelsea. I always really enjoy
♠ 4 these Friday nights that are pairs with
♥ Void IMP scoring. We don’t win this time
♦ 8 but have a good evening anyway.
♣ Q 6 5 3
♠ K 5
♥ 10 6 4 N
♠ 8 7
♥ Void
Saturday
W E
♦ J S ♦ Void After something of a lie-in, we go back
♣ Void ♣ J 10 8 7 to High Wycombe for lunch.
♠ A Q J 10 This is a pretty lazy weekend.
♥ Void TV, interspersed with watching the
♦ Void Premier League final weekend on BBO.
♣ A 9 I have never got around to playing in
this event, mainly because it is still not
that easy for me to go away for a whole
Now he cashes the ace and queen of weekend. I much prefer single days
clubs. West throws one heart and away which is why I like playing in the
then, with obvious reluctance, anoth- national knock-out competitions.
Page 45
Sunday
Another lazy day. Though I do find the
energy to go up into the roof and start
to sort out some stuff. Barry helps me
lug a lot of stuff down. I was hoping
we could have a major clear-out but
end up feeling that most of what we
brought down needs to go back up.
It is fun pottering about while Barry
watches the Premier League. Every
now and then he says, ‘You hold …’
The League was won by Frances Hin-
den, Graham Osborne, Jeffrey Aller-
ton and Chris Jagger. When anyone
has polls/conversations about the
best women players in the country,
Frances is sometimes overlooked be-
cause she doesn’t play women’s bridge,
but she is right up there with (maybe
even above) the rest of us. She is the
first woman to have won the Premier
League, though last year she was in the
runners-up team and therefore was
chosen to represent England in the
Camrose Trophy (England won all its
matches to win the event outright). I
like this deal, which is not difficult, but
it would be easy to go wrong.
Love All. Dealer East.
♠ Q 8 2
♥ K Q 10 6
♦ J 7
♣ K Q 9 5
♠ K 10 7 6 5 3 ♠ 9 4
♥ 8 2 N ♥ A 9 7 5 3
W E
♦ A 6 3 S ♦ 9 8
♣ A 8 ♣ 10 6 3 2
♠ A J
♥ J 4
♦ K Q 10 5 4 2
♣ J 7 4
West North
East
Pass
South
1♦
1♠ Dbl Pass 2♦
Pass 2♠ Pass 2NT
Pass 3NT All Pass
In the other room, West led a spade
and it was all over. Declarer could not
knock out two aces without losing
too many tricks. In this room, Tom
Townsend, misguidedly in my view,
chooses to lead a heart. East wins his ace
over dummy’s king and switches to a
 Seven Days continued
Ardington Hotel
Worthing BN11 3DZ
spade. This knocks out the
entry to the diamonds (al-
though the jack of hearts is
an entry, if she uses it then
she cannot cash her hearts).
I’m sure many of you would
simply play the jack of
spades, win the spade return
and play a diamond to the
jack, cash some hearts and
play another diamond. West
BRIDGE EVENTS 2013 would win and clear spades,
setting up plenty of winners
15-17 March Doubles £ 215
for when he gets in with the
22-24 March Just Duplicate Bridge £ 199 ace of clubs. Frances times
it perfectly. She wins with
12-14 April Just Duplicate Bridge £ 199 the ace of spades (had she
ducked and West continued
17-19 May Stayman & Transfers £ 215 with a heart she might have
had communication prob-
7-9 June Suit Establishment £ 215 lems) and plays the king of
Full Board – No Single Supplement diamonds. West ducks, per-
force and now Frances plays
Booking Form on page 7.
a club. Had West ducked
(best), she would have con-
tinued with the jack of dia-
monds (overtaking with the
of the evening is spent loll-
ing about in the front of the
TV in our pyjamas (X Fac-
tor results are a highspot,
but Sunday evening is a bit
empty now Downton Abbey
has finished). ■
Dramatis Personae
Sally Brock lives in High Wy-
combe with her two teenag-
ers, her husband Raymond
having died in early 2008. She
works partly as a bridge pro-
fessional, occasionally play-
ing for pay but more often
writing (she is the bridge col-
umnist for The Sunday Times)
and teaching online; the rest
of the time she works on the
production of travel guides.
She has been a member of
the British/English women’s
team on and off since 1979.
Briony & Toby are Sally’s
17-year-old daughter and
18-year-old son.
Barry Myers is Sally’s new
partner, both at and away
from the bridge table. He is
a criminal defence barrister
and lives in Shepherd’s Bush.
Nicola Smith is Sally’s current

Chatsworth Hotel queen in case West ducks)

Worthing BN11 3DU
BRIDGE EVENTS 2013
12-14 Apr Bernard Magee Declarer Play £245
14-16 Jun Just Duplicate Bridge £199
18-20 Oct Bernard Magee Play and NEW
TOPIC
Defending 1NT
15-17 Nov Bernard Magee Bidding NEW
TOPIC
Distributional Hands
Full Board – No Single Supplement
Booking Form on page 7.
and another diamond. West
has no defence: if he plays a
spade, she has nine winners;
if he plays a heart, she can
win in hand, cash the dia-
monds and play a spade to
set up her ninth trick.
This is a good result for
the Hinden team who have
qualified to represent Eng-
land in this year’s Camrose.
I can recommend this
sort of half-watching when
there is a decent event go-
ing on. Watching TV with
the bridge open on a laptop
is quite a fun way of passing
the time.
Later on, a friend of Bri-
£245 ony’s comes round for a
cookie cooking session –
she really likes baking but
£245
needs help with the eating.
Barry can be counted on to
oblige. We all have a spa-
ghetti supper, then Barry
and Sam leave and the rest
international bridge partner.
They formed a last-minute
partnership in 2008 to join
the England women’s team
for the World Mind Sports
Games in Beijing where they
won the gold medal. Nicola
has been playing interna-
tional bridge since she was
17, which is rather a long
time ago.
Kitty Teltscher is a friend and
captain of the team that Sally
and Nicola play for in the Lon-
don League.
Mario Dix is a friend who lives
in Malta whom Sally (and usu-
ally Briony) visit most years.
Richard and Gerry are two of
Sally’s regular online clients.
Richard lives in North London
and Gerry lives in Toronto.
Every week Sally plays against
them for a couple of hours,
stopping to discuss problems
that arise – sometimes with
Barry if he is not working,
and sometimes with herself,
when she usually is almost
flawless!
Margaret Nygren is Sally’s
best friend.

Page 46
 Answers to Bernard Magee’s
Bidding Quiz on page 3
1. Dealer East. Love All.
♠ K 7 ♠ A Q 8 4
N
♥ Q 9 3
W E
♥ A K J
♦ 8 5 3 2 S ♣ A 9 6
♣ 7 6 5 4 ♣ J 10 2
West North East South
1♠ Pass
? excellent controls and possible ruffing
Pass. There are good reasons for the
requirement of 6 points to respond. To
break the rules, you need an equally
good reason. There is no such reason
here – this question should have been
very simple. With just 5 points and no
useful distribution, you do not have
enough to respond. Why do you need
6 points? Opener may have 19 points
and adding your 6 he will hope to make
game. If you respond 1NT, your partner
might jump to 3NT – not good when 7
tricks are likely to be the limit.
2. Dealer South. Love All.
♠ 3 ♠ A J 9 5
N
♥ A 3 2 ♥ 8
W E
♦ J 8 7 6 2 S ♦ A 9 5 3
♣ K 8 5 4 ♣ Q 10 3 2
West North East South
1♥
Pass 2♥ Dbl 3♥
4♦ 4♥ Pass Pass
? 2♣ Pass
Double. Your partner has made a take-
out double over 2♥ and you competed
with 4♦. Now your opponents have gone
further to 4♥. You have control of trumps
(♥A), a singleton and a king. All of this
and your partner should have ‘opening
values’. Give your partner two aces and
you are likely to make two spade ruffs,
three aces and likely another trick from
clubs – three off. Punish your opponents
for overbidding – double. + 500 will be
 
even better than making 5♦, which is no your partner will raise to 4♠ – this might
certainty anyway. not make but does have a good chance.
In no-trumps, your partner is unlikely
to make more than six tricks – he finds
3. Dealer East. Game All. himself stuck in his hand.
♠ A 6 ♠ Q 3 2 If you play transfers, you bid 3♥,
♥ 5 4 N ♥ A K 3 still showing spades and enabling the
W E
♦ 6 5 2 S ♦ J 10 4 3 strong hand to become declarer –
♣ A Q 10 9 5 4 ♣ K 8 3 partner will probably jump to 4♠ with
his strong three-card spade support,
West North East South value. ■
1NT 2♠
?
3NT. If you can make all of those lovely The Inn
clubs, you will be doing well; if not, so be
it – with such a good suit and the balance
on the Prom
of power, you certainly do not want to Bridge Events
defend 2♠. While that might suggest
bidding clubs, actually you should be 2013
thinking of bigger things – no-trumps.
If partner has the ♣K, you can almost
count seven tricks for him; even if the ♣K
is missing, the overcaller may well hold
the card for his bid. When you hold a
pretty strong and long minor suit, think
of no-trumps.
St Annes-on-Sea FY8 1LU
4. Dealer East. Love All.
♠ 9 8 7 6 3 ♠ A K 4
♥ 4
N
♥ A 7 6 3
19-21 April
W E
♦ 6 3 2 S ♦ A K Bernard Magee
♣ 10 9 5 4 ♣ A Q 3 2 Thinking Defence
£245
West North East South 12-14 July
Kay Adamson
2♦ Pass 2NT Pass Just Duplicate Bridge
? £169
3♠. (3♥ if you play transfers). 16-18 August
Your partner has shown you 23-24 Gwen Beattie
points and a balanced hand. If your Just Duplicate Bridge
first thought is to pass and let partner £169
struggle in 2NT, remember that you have
nothing for him in no-trumps, whereas in Full Board
spades you might at least make a couple No Single Supplement
of tricks. Booking Form on page 7.
If you do not play transfers, bid 3♠ –
Page 47
ADVANCE NOTICE
ENJOY DAILY BRIDGE WHILE VISITING BRIDGE
If undelivered or unwanted kindly return to
THE CITIES & SITES Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey, GU21 2TH
OF ANCIENT ASIA
HONG KONG TO BANGKOK - JANUARY 29, 2014
China
DATE PORT Hong Kong
JAN 29 Depart UK Hanoi
JAN 30 Arrive HONG KONG China Halong Bay
Transfer to overnight hotel
South
China Sea
Join Bernard Magee for a spectacular voyage JAN 31 HONG KONG China
Embark Aegean Odyssey
Vietnam
Hue
Thailand Da Nang
Plan for next Winter now and start 2014 in style. This is a great opportunity for you to FEB 1/2 At Sea Bangkok
reserve your cabin and join Bernard Magee on this voyage to Asia’s great cities and ancient FEB 3 HALONG BAY (Hanoi) Vietnam Angkor Wat Nha Trang
sites. Start with a hotel stay in Hong Kong then join the elegant Aegean Odyssey to cruise FEB 4 HALONG BAY Vietnam Cambodia
Ho Chi Minh City
through the South China Sea to the highlights and breathtaking sights of Vientam. FEB 5 At Sea
FEB 6 HUE Vietnam MR BRIDGE SPECIAL FARES
Book now to take advantage FEB 7 DA NANG Vietnam Double Cabin Single
of these great FEB 8 At Sea
Per person sharing Cabin
Mr Bridge fares FEB 9 NHA TRANG Vietnam
Standard Inside
Superior Inside
£3,350
from £3,550
£3,450
from £3,650
FEB 10 HO CHI MINH CITY Vietnam Standard Outside £3,995 £4,095
FEB 11 HO CHI MINH CITY Vietnam Superior Outside from £4,245 from £4,345
FEB 12/13 At Sea Deluxe Outside from £4,995 from £5,095
Mr Bridge fares from just £3,350 include: Deluxe Balcony from £5,595 from £5,695
FEB 14 BANGKOK Thailand
• THE FULL BRIDGE PROGRAMME • FLIGHTS & TRANSFERS Disembark and transfer to airport
• EXPERTLY PLANNED ITINERARIES • SHORE EXCURSIONS for flight home
Past passengers can SAVE MORE
• ANTIQUITY GUEST SPEAKERS • OPEN-SEATING DINING please call for details
Prices are per person in double or dedicated single cabins and include MR BRIDGE SPECIAL
• WINE WITH DINNER ON BOARD • GRATUITIES ON BOARD SAVINGS. The number of dedicated single cabins is strictly limited.
• EXCLUSIVE COCKTAIL PARTY
Please book early to avoid disappointment. LOW
SINGLE
FARES
V OYAGES TO A NTIQUITY
10093
Call on 01483 489961 www.mrbridge.co.uk ABTA No.Y2206